title: Routine preoperative chest X-rays.
abstract: 687 patients presenting for routine and emergency anaesthesia were studied. 297 were found to have a chest X-ray. Abnormalities on chest X-ray were scattered amongst most age groups. Patients in American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade I were found to have abnormalities in only 4% of cases, and the abnormalities were of no anaesthetic significance. The incidence of abnormalities increased to 25% in grade II, 52% in grade III and 81% in grades IV and V. Patients in American Society of Anaesthesiologists grades III, IV and V, and those suffering from trauma should have a preoperative chest X-ray.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: McCleane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000776:Anesthesiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic