Routine radiography following chest tube removal in surgical patients: a systematic review
This systematic review evaluated the clinical value of routine chest X‑rays after chest tube removal versus imaging guided by clinical assessment. Across largely non‑randomized studies, omitting routine post‑pull X‑rays showed no clear impact on hospital length of stay or chest tube duration, though evidence certainty was very low. The findings question the routine use of post‑removal imaging and support a more selective, clinically driven approach to chest drain management pending high‑quality trials.
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