Guidelines for the routine assessment of respiratory surgical risk: thoracic radiography
Assenza, M.; Antonaci, A.; Carnuccio, P.; Carnuccio, A.; Consorti, F.; Errera, A.M.; Di Paola, M.
Il Giornale di Chirurgia 20(4): 149-153
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-9005 PMID: 10230115 Document Number: 511053
Through the three years between June 1995 and June 1998 the authors applied an evaluation schedule for the respiratory surgical risk to all the patients undergoing general surgery. Chest X-ray was included in this schedule as a first-level test and it was performed systematically on all the patients. The purpose of the study was to verify the effectiveness of chest X-ray as a routine examination of the respiratory performance, evaluating its predictive value on 1715 cases. The routine employment of this preoperative test on patients resulting risk-free at an accurate clinical anamnestic examination doesn't seem to be justified, basing on the preliminary results achieved. Therefore, chest X-ray should be considered a second-level test, to be performed on the basis of a precise clinical query only. This way a significant health-care cost reduction could be achieved, without affecting the quality of patient's management.