Keywords:
Lung, Respiratory system, Thorax, Conventional radiography, Outcomes analysis, Outcomes, Pathology
Authors:
A. Mantarro, P. Vagli, F. Pancrazi, P. Scalise, G. Gherarducci, D. L. Lauretti, R. Scandiffio, C. Bartolozzi; Pisa/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-2234
Purpose
In the past,
preoperative chest radiograph was included in many centers for routine anesthesiologic evaluation,
since it is a relatively low-cost and low-risk procedure to screen or evaluate for occult or known cardiopulmonary disease [1,
2].
However,
several recently published studies concluded that routine chest radiograph should be avoided before elective surgical procedures [3].
It comes up that chest radiographs identify a lot of no serious abnormalities because surgical population is low-risk for cardio-pulmonary diseases [1].
Due to the prevalence of chest abnormalities increases with age and risk factors,
preoperative chest X-ray is clinically indicated by a history of systemic or cardio-respiratory disease that limits daily activity or abnormal physical findings [4].
The purpose of this survey was to evaluate in our population,
selected according to SIAARTI-SIRM guidelines,
the frequency and clinical impact of incidental findings in preoperative chest radiograph in middle-aged/elderly patients.