Intra‐pleural fibrinolytic therapy versus placebo, or a different fibrinolytic agent, in the treatment of adult parapneumonic effusions and empyema

Review (12 RCTs: 10 of fibrinolytics vs placebo; n=993; 1 of streptokinase vs. urokinase; n=50 & 1 of alteplase vs urokinase; n=99) found intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy linked to reduction in requirement for surgical intervention & treatment failure but no change in mortality.

Source:

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews