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Published on: December 23, 2014
Are routine chest radiographs necessary after image-guided placement of internal jugular central venous access
T C Chang1, B Funaki, G X Szymski
1Department of Radiology, University of Chicago Hospitals, IL 60637, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine the value and cost of obtaining routine chest radiographs after image-guided placement of internal jugular central venous catheters.
Materials And Methods:
We reviewed the records of 424 patients in whom 572 internal jugular catheters were placed by sonographic and fluoroscopic guidance over a 2-year period. Inspiratory and expiratory chest radiographs obtained immediately after each procedure were also reviewed.
Results:
Routine postprocedural chest radiographs revealed no complications and did not alter the treatment of any patient. Delayed pneumothorax was detected after placement of two catheters (0.5%) when patient symptoms prompted additional radiographs.
Conclusion:
Immediate postprocedural chest radiographs are not routinely needed after image-guided insertion of internal jugular central venous catheters and unnecessarily add to the cost of patient care.
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