OBJECTIVES For many years, extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) was the operation of choice for the radical management of pleural mesothelioma in the UK. However, doubts surrounding the efficacy of EPP, and the change in demographics of the affected population, have prompted a transition in our practice towards extended pleurectomy/decortication (EPD). The aim of this study was to determine the effects an intentional transition from EPP to EPD has had on patient outcome. METHODS Data from 362 patients undergoing radical surgery (229 EPD, 133 EPP) during 1999–2014 were included. Demographics and outcome were compared between the two groups; EPP versus EPD. RESULTS The median age of patients undergoing EPD was significantly higher than those undergoing EPP 57 years (range 14–70 years) vs 65 years (range 42–81 years), P < 0.001. There was a significantly higher proportion of patients with performance status ≥1 in the EPD group (46.3 vs 35.4%, P = 0.047). There was no difference in the median length of hospital stay between the two groups 14 days (range 1–133 days) vs 13 days (range 0–93 days), P = 0.409. There was also no difference between the groups in terms of in-hospital mortality (EPP 5.3% and EPD 6.6%, P = 0.389), 30-day mortality EPP 8 (6.0%) and EPD 8 (3.5%), P = 0.294 or 90-day mortality EPP 18 (13.5%) and EPD 21 (9.2%), P = 0.220. There was a significantly higher early reoperation rate in the EPP group (15.0 vs 6.2%, P = 0.008) but a significantly higher late reoperation rate in the EPD group (0.8 vs 5.3%, P = 0.037). There was no significant difference in overall survival or disease-free interval between the two groups (P = 0.899 and P = 0.399, respectively). However, overall survival was significantly greater in patients over the age of 65 undergoing EPD (12.5 vs 4.7 months, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION The transition from EPP to EPD in our standard practice has enabled us to operate on more elderly, frail patients with no significant increase in use of hospital resources, and without detriment to overall survival.