| Sub-title | |
| Authors | N Schembri S Schembri T Fardon |
| Abstract | Objective: To assess whether any additional information is obtained through the routine requesting of chest X-rays on all adult medical admissions. Design: Observational study. Setting: Accident and Emergency Department, St Luke's Hospital, Malta. Participants: All adult acute medical admissions, irrespective of age and gender. Main outcome measures: The number of cases where unexpected findings were reported on routine chest X-rays. Method: Participants were subdivided according to their smoking status as smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers. They were then in turn divided into 2 age groups: <50 year-old, >50 year-old. The respective chest X-ray reports, as documented in the admission medical notes, were revisited and categorised as normal chest X-rays, confirming a diagnosis or whether unexpected findings were reported. Results: Out of a total of 109 patients assessed, 23 were smokers, 70 were non-smokers and 16 were ex-smokers. Normal chest X-rays were reported in 19, 41, and 4 of smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers respectively. Diagnosis was confirmed on chest X-rays in 1, 15, and 6 of smokers, nonsmokers, and ex-smokers respectively. Unexpected findings were diagnosed in 3 smokers, 14 non-smokers, and 6 ex-smokers making up a total of 23 cases out of the 109 gathered. Out of these 23 cases, 7 were unexpected findings requiring further investigation including: possible lung primary (2), newly diagnosed lung metastases (2), pneumonia (2), aortic aneurysm (1); 6 of these cases being in the >50 age group. Interestingly 3 were smokers. Conclusions: The practice of requesting routine chest X-rays in all patients admitted to medical wards is almost exclusively useful in those over the age of 50 years especially in smokers, We suggest reviewing current practice. practice. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 18 Supplement |
| Page | |
| Date | 01/12/2006 |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | accident and emergency, acute admission, audit, routine chest X ray |