922 Pre-Operative Chest X-Ray Prior To Aneurysm Surgery Is Unnecessary

Aim Over 4100 elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) cases are performed each year in the UK. In our tertiary centre the anaesthetic pre-operative protocol for these patients includes a chest x-ray (CXR), because some risk factors for aneurysmal disease (smoking, older age) cross over with those for lung cancer. This study was performed to see if the CXR changed management in AAA patients. Method A retrospective radiology review of 191 consecutive patients who had an elective AAA repair at one unit in 2017-2018 was carried out. Computed tomography angiogram (CTA) and CXR findings were compared. Where an abnormality was reported, patient records were reviewed and the impact of the abnormal result on the patient journey assessed. Results Of 191 patients, 148 had pre-op CXRs. Of the CXRs, 60 reported abnormalities, most of which were minor (cardiomegaly, atelectasis, reticular shadowing). Of the 60, 28 had no lung abnormalities on CTA, 18 had not had a reported CTA, 8 corresponded with the CTA and 6 had a different chest abnormality reported on the CTA. 2 patients had CTs of the chest following CXR findings and no patients had an operation cancelled or delayed due to findings on CXR. Conclusions Each CXR costs around £20 including reporting and administration time. In addition, there is inconvenience to the patient and additional radiation dose. None of the pre-operative CXRs resulted in a change to patient operative management therefore the requirement for pre-operative CXR was removed from the units’ protocol.