Background/Objectives: Non-invasive urine collection in the pediatric emergency department (ED) is frequently complicated by prolonged collection times and unacceptably high contamination rates associated with the traditional bag specimen urine (BSU) method. This prospective study aimed to compare the operational efficiency and diagnostic reliability of the bladder stimulation technique (BST)—a highly promising alternative—against the traditional BSU method. Methods: The study included 149 infants aged ≤ 6 months (BST group: n = 81; BSU group: n = 68) requiring urinalysis. We systematically evaluated procedural success rates, time-to-collection metrics, and sample contamination frequencies. Furthermore, we assessed the influence of patient age, weight, behavioral state, and sex on BST efficacy. Results: The BST demonstrated superior clinical performance, significantly reducing the total mean time-to-collection to 21 min, compared to 60 min—often extending up to 4 h—typically required for BSU. Notably, the actual stimulation maneuver required only about 78 s. While approximately half of the BSU samples were contaminated, BST markedly decreased this rate (16% vs. 58%). Factors associated with the highest procedural success included patient age ≤ 3 months, weight ≤ 6000 g, and remaining calm during the procedure. Infant sex did not significantly affect success rates. Conclusions: Functioning as both an “operational accelerator” and a “diagnostic firewall,” the BST mitigates the inherent limitations of conventional methods and has the potential to replace the traditional urine bag. By offering a rapid, predictable, and clean alternative, it facilitates the swift initiation of accurate treatment and helps prevent families from leaving the ED before sample collection.

Background/Objectives: We aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of children with complicated pneumonia/empyema who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and to identify factors associated with length of hospital stay. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 68 children who presented to the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary university hospital and underwent VATS between April 2015 and April 2025. Factors associated with length of stay were assessed using univariable and multivariable negative binomial regression. Results: Median age was 60 months (interquartile range 36–138), and 66% were male. On univariable analysis, C-reactive protein (CRP) was associated with length of stay (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.03 per 100 mg/L; p = 0.034), whereas age was not (p = 0.542). In the multivariable model, CRP remained borderline associated (IRR = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.06; p = 0.049), whereas performance of computed tomography was not (p = 0.142). An atypical (gastrointestinal or pain-predominant) presentation occurred in 25%. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently detected bacterial pathogen, mainly by nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction. Conclusions: In this single-center, retrospective cohort, higher CRP at presentation, but not age, was modestly associated with a longer hospital stay; this small association needs confirmation in larger prospective studies, and most children (82%) were managed with VATS alone.