Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T00:40:55.154Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Is a routine chest X-ray indicated before discharge following paediatric cardiac surgery?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2009

Kerstin Bosse  and
Thomas Krasemann
Kerstin Bosse
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
Thomas Krasemann*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
*
Correspondence to: Thomas Krasemann MD, Evelina Children’s Hospital, Dept. of Paediatric Cardiology, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 207 188 4562; Fax: +44 207 188 4556; E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In many paediatric cardiosurgical units, a chest X-ray is routinely performed before discharge. We sought to evaluate the clinical impact of such routine radiographs in the management of children after cardiac surgery.

Of 100 consecutive children, a chest X-ray was performed in 71 prior to discharge. Of these, 38 were clinically indicated, while 33 were performed as a routine. Therapeutic changes were instituted on the basis of the X-ray in 4 patients, in all of whom the imaging had been clinically indicated. No therapeutic changes followed those radiographs performed on a routine basis.

Conclusion: Routine chest radiographs can be omitted prior to discharging patients after paediatric heart surgery.

Keywords

Congenital heart diseasepostoperative managementradiation
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , August 2009 , pp. 370 - 371
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.UNSCEAR report. Sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation. UNSCEAR publications, New York, 1988, p. 433.Google Scholar
2.Montgomery, A, Martin, CJ. A study of the application of paediatric reference levels. Br J Radiol 2000; 73: 1083–1090.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Freitas, MB, Yoshimura, EM. Dose measurements in chest diagnostic X-rays: adult and paediatric patients. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2004; 111: 73–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Yakoumakis, EN, Tsalafoutas, IA. Radiation doses in common X-ray examinations carried out in two dedicated paediatric hospitals. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2007; 124: 348–352.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Rao, PS, Abid, Q, Khan, KJ, et al. Evaluation of postoperative chest X-rays in the management of the cardiac surgical patient. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1997; 12: 724–729.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Mets, O, Spronk, PE, Binnekade, J, Stoker, J, de Mol, BA, Schultz, MJ. Estimation of daily routine chest radiographs does not change on-demand radiography practice in post-cardiothoracic surgery patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007; 134: 139–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Commission of the European Communities. European guidelines on quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images in paediatrics. EUR 16261 EN (Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities). 1996.Google Scholar
8.Graat, ME, Choi, G, Wolthuis, EK, et al. The clinical value of daily routine chest radiographs in a mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit is low. Crit Care 2006; 10: R11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Graat, ME, Kroner, A, Spronk, PE, et al. Elimination of daily routine chest radiographs in a mixed medical–surgical intensive care unit. Intensive Care Med 2007; 33: 639–644.CrossRefGoogle Scholar