title: Preoperative chest x-ray films in elective surgery: a valid screening tool.
abstract: The authors reviewed retrospectively 1000 patients who had a preoperative chest x-ray film made and who underwent elective surgery. Results showed that 5.8% of women and 10.5% of men (7.4% of all patients) had an abnormal preoperative chest x-ray film. These abnormalities were much more frequent (30%) in patients over 50 years of age than in younger patients (3%). Of the 74 patients whose films revealed abnormalities, 68 (92%) had a history or symptoms of cardiorespiratory disease. Of the six patients with x-ray film abnormalities but without symptoms or a pertinent history, none had a change in clinical outcome because of radiography. Guidelines are recommended for selectively ordering preoperative chest x-rays in surgical patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Famille, Ville Marie, PQ.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiasson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies