Routine Chest X-Rays After Thoracic Surgery Are Unnecessary

Abstract

Background: Routine chest x-rays (CXRs) ordered on thoracic surgery inpatients are common, costly, and of unclear clinical utility. We sought to investigate CXR ordering practices and their impact on clinical care.

Materials and methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted after undergoing thoracic surgery with an intraoperative chest tube (CT) placed was performed over a 1-y period. Our primary outcome was a CXR-driven change in care. We evaluated routine CXR orders immediately after surgery in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and after final CT removal. "Routine" was defined as not ordered during a workup for a clinical concern. Patients were excluded if they underwent pleurodesis, were discharged with a CT, or had an immediate post-CT removal clinical change prompting intervention.

Results: A total of 241 patients met inclusion. All patients received a routine PACU CXR, and 48% (117) had abnormal radiographic findings (e.g., pneumothorax, consolidation, effusion, etc). Secondary to this CXR, one patient (0.4%) experienced a change in care: a repeat CXR only. All patients received a routine final CT removal CXR, and 58% (140) had abnormal radiographic findings. After this CXR, 33 patients (14%) experienced a change in care: 32 underwent repeat CXR and one was clinically observed. Overall, no patients experienced a procedural intervention.

Conclusions: Routine post-thoracic surgery CXRs in the PACU and after CT removal have limited clinical impact. Quality initiatives should be pursued to decrease empiric CXR use and reserve ordering for specific clinical concerns.

Keywords: Chest x-ray; Cost-effectiveness; Patient safety; Postoperative complication; Thoracic surgery; Thoracostomy tube.