Efficacy and cost of video-assisted thoracoscopic partial pleurectomy versus talc pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MesoVATS): an open-label, randomised, controlled trial [1]
This randomized controlled trial compared VATS partial pleurectomy (VAT-PP) to talc pleurodesis in patients with malignant mesothelioma and a pleural effusion, evaluating overall survival. VAT-PP was associated with significantly greater surgical complications, a higher rate of respiratory complications and prolonged air leak, and a significantly longer median hospital length of stay. Survival at 1 year was similar to the talc pleurodesis group (52% vs 57%). VAT-PP is not recommended for improving survival in patients with malignant mesothelioma and a pleural effusion.