Chest x-ray - an approach (summary)

Changed by Jeremy Jones, 10 Jan 2018

Updates to Article Attributes

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Chest x-ray review is a key competency for medical students, junior doctors and other allied health professionals. Chest radiographs are frequently performed and a fantastic tool for making diagnoses of acute and chronic conditions, as well as acting as a tool for follow-up.

Reference article

This is a summary article; we do not have a more in-depth reference article.

Summary

  • be systematic
    • get into a habit
    • do the same thing every time
  • initial review
    • who, what, why, where and when
    • quality
  • lines and tubes
  • A, B, C, D, E
    • airway
    • breathing (lungs and pleural spaces)
    • circulation (cardiomediastinum)
    • disability (bones... think fracture)
    • exposure (everything else)
  • -<a title="Chest x-ray: initial review (summary)" href="/articles/chest-x-ray-initial-review-summary">initial review</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-initial-review-summary">initial review</a><ul>
  • -<a title="Chest x-ray: lines and tubes (summary)" href="/articles/chest-x-ray-lines-and-tubes-summary">lines and tubes</a><ul>
  • -<li>always review lines and tubes first</li>
  • -<li>check position</li>
  • +<a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-lines-and-tubes-summary">lines and tubes</a><ul><li>always review lines and tubes first<ul>
  • +<li><a title="Evaluation of endotracheal tube position" href="/articles/evaluation-of-endotracheal-tube-position">ET tube</a></li>
  • +<li><a title="Evaluation of nasogastric tube position" href="/articles/evaluation-of-nasogastric-tube-position">NG tube</a></li>
  • +<li><a title="Central venous catheter" href="/articles/central-venous-catheter">central venous catheters</a></li>
  • +<li>any other lines and tubes, e.g. chest drains</li>
  • +</li></ul>
  • -<a title="Chest x-ray: A, B, C, D, E (summary)" href="/articles/chest-x-ray-a-b-c-d-e-summary">A, B, C, D, E</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/chest-x-ray-abcde-summary">A, B, C, D, E</a><ul>

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