Table 5

New and unexpected predefined major abnormalities on daily routine chest radiographs resulting in a change in management per admittance category

Abnormality
Diagnostic category (number of chest radiographs)



Medical (422)
General surgery (481)
Cardiopulmonary surgery (1251)
Neurosurgery (233)
Other (70)

Large atelectasis
-/8
-/3
-/12
-/0
-/1
Large infiltrates
1/3
2/5
9/13
0/2
0/0
'Severe' pulmonary congestion
-/1
-/2
-/25
-/1
-/0
'Severe' pleural effusion
1/4
3/5
1/3
0/1
0/0
Pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum
1/3
0/2
4/9
0/0
0/0
Malposition of oropharyngeal tube
5/8
3/6
8/15
3/3
0/0
Malposition of intravenous lines
1/2
1/2
7/8
0/0
0/0
Malposition of intra-aortic balloon pump
0/0
1/1
0/0
0/0
0/0
Malposition of gastric tube
1/2
0/0
2/3
0/0
0/0
Malposition of drains
1/1
0/0
0/0
0/0
0/0
Total (% of all daily routine chest radiographs in group)
11/32 (2.6%/7.6%)
10/26 (2.1%/5.4%)
31/88 (2.5%/7.0%)
3/7 (1.3%/3.0%)*
0/1 (0.0%/1.4%)*

Values are expressed as unexpected abnormalities resulting in a change in management (n)/all unexpected abnormalities per category (n); absolute numbers are given per diagnostic category. Predefined major abnormalities are summarized in Table 1. *P < 0.05 versus medical, general surgery and cardiopulmonary surgery. -, not scored for.

Graat et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R11   doi:10.1186/cc3955