Table 4

Management changes resulting from chest radiographs (CXRs)


Medical patients
Surgical patients






< 48 hours
≥ 48 hours






Routine
Non-routine

Routine
Non-routine

(n = 103)
(n = 24)

(n = 26)
(n = 4)

CXR that changed management (n) (% total)
127 (20%)
12 (15%)
30 (24%)
Total number of management changes*
107
27
13
29
6
Adjustment/insertion of medical device
62 (58%)
15 (56%)
5 (38%)
12 (41%)
1 (17%)
Ventilator setting changes
1 (1%)
0
0
0
0
Antibiotic treatment
3 (3%)
4 (15%)
0
0
0
Treatment of congestive heart failure
8 (8%)
1 (4%)
4 (31%)
8 (28%)
1 (17%)
Thoracentesis
7 (6%)
1 (4%)
0
3 (10%)
1 (17%)
Bronchoscopy
11 (10%)
3 (11%)
0
0
1 (17%)
Other
15 (14%)
3 (11%)
4 (31%)
6 (21%)
2 (33%)

Percentages may not add up to 100% because of rounding. * Some CXRs resulted in more than one management change. Only routine CXRs changed management.

Chahine-Malus et al. Critical Care 2001 5:271   doi:10.1186/cc1045