Pediatric empyema thoracis--role of conservative management.

3. The two cohorts did not differ significantly in the baseline characteristics. Gestational age, birth weight (except for a 40g difference), gender, SGA, obstetric complications, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were comparable between the two groups. The only two factors that might have had an impact is the use of antenatal steroids and surfactant therapy. 4. We agree that the rates of mechanical ventilation were similar between the two groups. We actually meant high frequency ventilation when we referred mechanical ventilation. We thank you for pointing this out.