The impact of routine preoperative chest X-ray in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen

We conducted a prospective study of 1,013 consecutive patients who were scheduled for elective surgery in Srinagarind Hospital to determine the prevalence of abnormal chest X-rays and the change in management. Chest X-ray abnormalities were detected in 19.4 per cent (181/933) and lead to management change in 3.6 per cent (34/933). Fifty out of 933 had tuberculosis like lesions and 59 had cardiomegaly. By using Mantel-Haenzel chi-square and logistic regression, age greater than or equal to 45 years old was the most important predictors of the abnormalities found. Other predictors were cough and productive sputum. There was no statistical difference of the intraoperative and postoperative complications among the patients aged less than 45 years who had normal and abnormal chest X-rays. A preoperative chest X-ray may be useful as a routine evaluation only in those aged greater than or equal to 45 years.