Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspective

Objective: The necessity and utility of chest radiographs in the absence of clinical symptoms have been questioned after chest tube removal. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of replacing routine chest radiographs after chest tube removal with clinical observation on outcomes in patients under...

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Main Authors: Andreea C. Matei, MD, MSc, Awrad Nasralla, MD, Najib Safieddine, MD, FRCSC, Sayf Gazala, MD, FRCSC, Carmine Simone, MD, FRCSC, Negar Ahmadi, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCSC
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:JTCVS Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666273624001992
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author Andreea C. Matei, MD, MSc
Awrad Nasralla, MD
Najib Safieddine, MD, FRCSC
Sayf Gazala, MD, FRCSC
Carmine Simone, MD, FRCSC
Negar Ahmadi, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCSC
author_facet Andreea C. Matei, MD, MSc
Awrad Nasralla, MD
Najib Safieddine, MD, FRCSC
Sayf Gazala, MD, FRCSC
Carmine Simone, MD, FRCSC
Negar Ahmadi, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCSC
author_sort Andreea C. Matei, MD, MSc
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The necessity and utility of chest radiographs in the absence of clinical symptoms have been questioned after chest tube removal. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of replacing routine chest radiographs after chest tube removal with clinical observation on outcomes in patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. Methods: This was a single-center prospective study of adult patients undergoing elective lung resection. Standard chest radiographs after chest tube removal were replaced with a clinical observation protocol for 2 hours after removal. Chest radiographs after chest tube removal were meant to be obtained only for symptomatic patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse events related to this change. Secondary outcomes included changes in clinical management, length of stay, and postoperative complications. Results: A total of 248 patients were included in the study period, and the majority (n = 185, 75%) did not have chest radiographs after chest tube removal. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or postoperative complications between patients who received chest radiographs and those who did not. Additionally, length of stay was significantly shorter in patients who did not receive chest radiographs (median 2.3 vs 3 days; P < .05). Conclusions: Clinical observation can safely replace routine chest radiographs after chest tube removal in asymptomatic patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. This approach may lead to shorter hospital stays and reduced healthcare costs without compromising patient safety. The findings support a clinically driven use of postoperative imaging in this patient population, highlighting the importance of individualized patient care.
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spelling doaj-art-7e9967f7fcb541a9ba206e7d8f58e0032025-08-20T01:47:25ZengElsevierJTCVS Open2666-27362024-10-012135836510.1016/j.xjon.2024.07.015Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspectiveAndreea C. Matei, MD, MSc0Awrad Nasralla, MD1Najib Safieddine, MD, FRCSC2Sayf Gazala, MD, FRCSC3Carmine Simone, MD, FRCSC4Negar Ahmadi, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCSC5Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Thoracic Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Thoracic Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Thoracic Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Thoracic Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Thoracic Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Address for reprints: Negar Ahmadi, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCSC, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Michael Garron Hospital, Chest Centre, 825 Coxwell Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4C 3E7, Canada.Objective: The necessity and utility of chest radiographs in the absence of clinical symptoms have been questioned after chest tube removal. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of replacing routine chest radiographs after chest tube removal with clinical observation on outcomes in patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. Methods: This was a single-center prospective study of adult patients undergoing elective lung resection. Standard chest radiographs after chest tube removal were replaced with a clinical observation protocol for 2 hours after removal. Chest radiographs after chest tube removal were meant to be obtained only for symptomatic patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse events related to this change. Secondary outcomes included changes in clinical management, length of stay, and postoperative complications. Results: A total of 248 patients were included in the study period, and the majority (n = 185, 75%) did not have chest radiographs after chest tube removal. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or postoperative complications between patients who received chest radiographs and those who did not. Additionally, length of stay was significantly shorter in patients who did not receive chest radiographs (median 2.3 vs 3 days; P < .05). Conclusions: Clinical observation can safely replace routine chest radiographs after chest tube removal in asymptomatic patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. This approach may lead to shorter hospital stays and reduced healthcare costs without compromising patient safety. The findings support a clinically driven use of postoperative imaging in this patient population, highlighting the importance of individualized patient care.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666273624001992chest radiographchest tube
spellingShingle Andreea C. Matei, MD, MSc
Awrad Nasralla, MD
Najib Safieddine, MD, FRCSC
Sayf Gazala, MD, FRCSC
Carmine Simone, MD, FRCSC
Negar Ahmadi, MD, MSc, MPH, FRCSC
Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspective
JTCVS Open
chest radiograph
chest tube
title Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspective
title_full Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspective
title_fullStr Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspective
title_full_unstemmed Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspective
title_short Replacing post–chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients: A single-center prospective studyCentral MessagePerspective
title_sort replacing post chest tube removal chest radiographs with clinical assessment in adult thoracic surgery patients a single center prospective studycentral messageperspective
topic chest radiograph
chest tube
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666273624001992
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