Are routine, daily chest radiographs (CXR) necessary following (VATS and RATS) lobectomies?

Consensus guidelines regarding the amount and necessity of post-operative imaging in thoracic surgery are lacking. The efficacy of daily chest radiographs (CXR) following video-assisted (VATS) and robotic-assisted (RATS) thoracoscopic surgery in directing management has not been previously studied. We hypothesize that abnormal clinical findings, rather than abnormal imaging findings, better predict post-operative complications in patients undergoing VATS/RATS lobectomies.

A retrospective review of VATS and RATS lobectomy patients were performed at a tertiary referral center from 1/1/2019-12/31/2021. Demographics, hospital course, and imaging were evaluated. Descriptive statistics, Chi-Square test, Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank sum, and multivariable logistic regression were performed. Our outcomes were post-operative complications requiring a procedure and extended length of stay (LOS) (>2 days post-operatively).

Out of 362 VATS/RATS lobectomy patients, 15 patients had post-operative complications requiring a procedure. Almost all patients who required a procedure had abnormal clinical signs and symptoms (14/15; p < 0.001) while 70 % had expected post-operative day (POD) one CXR findings (11/15; p = 0.463). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated clinical signs and symptoms independently predicted procedural requirement (odds ratio [OR] = 48, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI]:8.5-267) while abnormal POD one imaging did not. For extended LOS, a positive smoking history (OR = 4.4, 95 % CI:1.4-14.1), number of CXRs (OR = 2.4, 95 % CI:1.8-3.2) and thoracostomy tubes (OR = 5.3, 95 % CI:1.0-27.3) were independent predictors while clinical signs and symptoms was not.

Abnormal clinical findings may guide management more predictably than abnormal CXRs after VATS/RATS. Routine CXR in the post-operative setting may be unnecessary in those without clinical signs or symptoms.

There are no consensus guidelines regarding the efficacy of routine, post-operative diagnostic studies after major thoracic lobar resections. The presence of abnormal signs or symptoms after minimally invasive lobectomies may better predict those who will require additional procedures better than the presence of abnormal routine, post-operative chest radiographs.