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BACKGROUND Pre-operative Chest X-ray (CXR) and electrocardiograms (ECG) are routinely ordered locally for patients above a certain age. This study examines the usefulness of such a practice and its clinical impact. METHODS Prospective audit of 875 consecutive anaesthetic patients over a one-month period, assessing the proportion and impact of abnormal CXR or ECG findings. RESULTS The proportion of patients with abnormal CXR or ECG increased with worsening ASA status. There was little impact of routine pre-operative CXR and ECG on anaesthetic management. Only 11/324 CXR and 13/375 ECG affected anaesthetic technique or choice of therapeutic procedure. CONCLUSIONS Targeted investigations should be performed as indicated by clinical findings rather than on the basis of arbitrary age cut-offs.
E H L Lim, and
E H C Liu
March 1989,
Irish journal of medical science,
E H L Lim, and
E H C Liu
February 1986,
British journal of hospital medicine,
E H L Lim, and
E H C Liu
November 1993,
Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie,
E H L Lim, and
E H C Liu
January 2011,
Medicina intensiva,
E H L Lim, and
E H C Liu
July 1987,
The American surgeon,
E H L Lim, and
E H C Liu
January 2014,
JAMA internal medicine,
E H L Lim, and
E H C Liu
October 1968,
The Transactions of the Society of Occupational Medicine,
