Is radiographic evaluation of the chest necessary following flank surgery?
OBJECTIVE
We determined whether routine postoperative chest radiography is warranted after flank surgery to assess for pneumothorax.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 253 adult flank operations performed during a 6-year period was conducted.


RESULTS
Incidental pleurotomy occurred in 63 cases (24.9%). The performance of rib resection and the level of rib removed as well as female gender had a significant impact on this occurrence. Pleurotomy was treated by a simple evacuation technique and tube thoracostomy was not necessary. Only 2 patients (0.8%) had a postoperative pneumothorax without intraoperative recognition of pleurotomy, which resolved without intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine postoperative chest radiography to assess for pneumothorax following open flank surgery is not necessary.
Poore
R E
RE
Department of Urology, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Sexton
W J
WJ
Hart
L J
LJ
Assimos
D G
DG
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010994:Pleura / Q000293:injuries*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies