Journal article
Do X-rays after chest tube removal change patient management?
Journal of pediatric surgery, v 52(5), pp 813-815
01 May 2017
PMID: 28189452
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
A link between childhood radiation and future cancer risks exists, and reduction of unnecessary radiation in childhood has been recommended. Pneumothoraces, pleural effusions, and many surgical procedures require placement of a chest tube/pigtail catheter. Traditional management is daily x-rays, with an x-ray after tube removal. Our hypothesis is the “post pull” x-ray rarely results in changing clinical management of the patient.
With IRB approval, a 5-year retrospective chart review was performed. Inclusion criteria were chest tube or pigtail placed for any reason with complete records. Data collected were demographics, reason for and duration of placement, number of x-rays done prior to and after removal. Primary outcome was whether the “post pull” x-ray changed clinical management.
A total of 179 episodes were evaluated. Seventeen were excluded for incomplete data, or death/transfer of the patient with the tube in situ. Forty-nine tubes/pigtails were placed for pneumothorax, 48 for pleural effusion/empyema, 9 for hemothorax, and 51 during operative procedure. A median of 5 x-rays was done post insertion. 99% of the patients (160/162) had a “post pull” x-ray performed after tube removal. In 9 cases the x-ray changed patient management.
X-ray after chest tube/pigtail removal rarely changes patient management. We recommend considering imaging if there are clinical symptoms.
Prognosis study, level II (retrospective cohort)
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Do X-rays after chest tube removal change patient management?
- Creators
- Bret Johnson - The University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterMichele Rylander - Children's Medical CenterAlana L. Beres - The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Publication Details
- Journal of pediatric surgery, v 52(5), pp 813-815
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 3
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Surgery
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000401098300030
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85011845015
- Other Identifier
- 991021969476604721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Pediatrics
- Surgery