title: Value of the chest X-ray as a screening test for elective surgery in children.
abstract: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the value of the chest x-ray as a preoperative screening procedure in pediatric patients. Admissions for elective surgery were compared at two hospitals, one that required routine preoperative chest x-rays and one that did not. Our purpose was to determine the yield of the screening chest x-ray in detecting unknown abnormalities and to determine whether patients who had a preoperative chest x-ray taken experienced fewer anesthetic or postoperative complications than did those who did not. In all, 1,924 cases were studied; in 749 a preoperative chest film was taken. Of those 749 cases, a previously unsuspected abnormality was discovered in 35 (4.7%) patients. Nine (1.2%) of these abnormalities were considered to be clinically significant and three (0.4%) resulted in cancellation of surgery. No differences in anesthetic or postoperative complications were noted between the two groups of patients. It is recommended that the performance of routine preoperative chest x-rays on apparently healthy children be discontinued.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008400:Mass Chest X-Ray; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative