Effect of transbronchial or intravenous administration of indocyanine green on resection margins during near-infrared-guided segmentectomy: a review.

For early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, surgical resection remains the best treatment option. Currently, sublobar resection, including segmentectomy, is recommended in these cases, as it provides a better quality of life with the same oncological outcomes; however, is requires adequate resection margins. Accurate preoperative planning and proper identification of the intersegmental planes during thoracic surgery are crucial for ensuring precise surgical management and adequate resection margins. Three dimensional computed tomography reconstruction and near-infrared-guided intersegmental plane identification can greatly facilitate the surgical procedures. Three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction can simulate both the resection and resection margins. Indocyanine green is one of the most frequently used and affordable fluorophores. There are two ways to identify the intersegmental planes using indocyanine green: intravenous and transbronchial administration. Intravenous application is simple; however, its effectiveness may be affected by underlying lung disease, and it requires the isolation of segmental structures before administration. Transbronchial use requires appropriate bronchoscopic skills and preoperative planning; however, it also allows for delineation deep in the parenchyma and can be used for complex segmentectomies. Both methods can be used to ensure adequate resection margins and, therefore, achieve the correct oncological radicality of the surgical procedure. Here, we summarise these applications and provide an overview of their different possibilities.

Chronic postoperative pain after non-intubated uniportal VATS lobectomy.

Introduction: Patients undergoing thoracic surgery are at increased risk of developing, long-lasting pain. Beyond the non-surgical factors, the type of operation, including the number of incisions, and the anesthetic assessment seemed to be important factors, although some studies are controversial. The aim of our study was to examine the presence of chronic postoperative pain after non-intubated uniportal VATS lobectomy. We examined the difference between the intubated, relaxed and non-intubated spontaneous ventilation surgical approaches in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) uniportal lobectomy. Methods: Demographic and postoperative data were retrospectively collected and analyzed, focusing on the use of pain medications, in 67 patients of the 140 patients selected by propensity score matching who underwent intubated (iVATS) or non-intubated (NITS) uniportal VATS lobectomy. This study focused on the use of analgesic medications 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Thirty-five intubated and 32 non-intubated patients were compared. Although the analgesic consumption was nearly 2% higher among the iVATS patients during the follow-up period, there were no statistically significant differences at 3 months (15.6 vs. 17.1%) (p = 0.868), at 6 months (9.4 vs. 12.4%) (p = 0.785), and at 12 months (3.3 vs. 5.9%) (p = 0.633) between the NITS and iVATS groups, respectively. More female than male patients reported chronic pain, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.616). Diabetes mellitus was a statistically significant cofactor associated with chronic pain (p = 0.03), while cardiac disease (p = 0.6), perioperative morbidity (p = 0.228), prolonged air leak (p = 0.057), and repeat drainage (p = 0.626) were not. Conclusion: Our study suggests that after non-intubation VATS lobectomies, the postoperative pain was less at 3, 6, and 12 months in NITS patients compared to iVATS patients. The 2% difference was not significant, so it may not be appropriate to claim the advantages of NITS in terms of postoperative pain.

Early postoperative results of sublobal lung resections performed with spontaneous ventilation combined with double lumen tube intubation. A new surgical method / Intubálással biztosított spontán légzés módszerével elvégzett sublobaris tüdoreszekciók korai mutét utáni eredményei. Új mutéti eljárás

Introduction. Non-intubated spontaneous ventilated (NITS) minimally invasive surgery (video-assisted thoracic surgery VATS) is a widespread procedure, but there are some doubts regarding its safety. We developed a safe method, spontaneous ventilation with intubation (SVI) to resolve these concerns. In this study, the early postoperative results of the SVI sublobar resections are presented. Methods. Between 2020 May 25 and 2021 March 26, 20 SVI VATS sublobar resection was performed with a double lumen intratracheal tube. Results. Surgeries were performed for 9 females and 11 males with a mean age of 66.1. The mean BMI was 27.8, FEV1 was 89.1%, and Carlson Comorbidity score was 6.1. The mean surgical time was 61.5 min, drainage time was 1.85 days and hospital stay was 3.35 days. Morbidity was found to be 5%. Primer lung cancer was removed in 9 cases, we performed 6 metastasectomies and in 5 cases benign lesion was removed. Conclusion. According to the early postoperative results spontaneous ventilated VATS sublobar resections with double lumen intratracheal tube can be considered a safe thoracic surgical method.

Better intraoperative cardiopulmonary stability and similar postoperative results of spontaneous ventilation combined with intubation than non-intubated thoracic surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Non-intubated spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy is a well-known procedure, but there are doubts regarding its safety. To solve this problem, we developed a safe procedure for spontaneous ventilation thoracic surgery (spontaneous ventilation with intubation). This study analyzed the intraoperative parameters and postoperative results of spontaneous ventilation with intubation. METHODS: Between March 11, 2020 and March 26, 2021, 38 spontaneous ventilation with intubation video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomies were performed. We chose the first 38 non-intubated spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy cases with a laryngeal mask performed in 2017 for comparison. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the non-intubated spontaneous ventilation and spontaneous ventilation with intubation groups in postoperative surgical results (surgical time: 98,7 vs. 88,1 min (p = 0.067); drainage time: 3.5 vs. 2.7 days (p = 0.194); prolonged air leak 15.7% vs. 10.5% (p = 0.5); conversion rate to relaxation: 5.2% vs. 13.1% (p = 0.237); failure of the spontaneous ventilation rate: 10.5% vs. 13.1% (p = 0.724); and morbidity: 21% vs. 13.1% (p = 0.364)) and oncological outcomes. Significantly lower lowest systolic and diastolic blood pressure (systolic, 83.1 vs 132.3 mmHg, p = 0.001; diastolic 47.8 vs. 73.4 mmHg, p = 0.0001), lowest oxygen saturation (90.3% vs 94.9%, p = 0.026), and higher maximum pCO2 level (62.5 vs 54.8 kPa, p = 0.009) were found in the non-intubated spontaneous ventilation group than in the spontaneous ventilation with intubation group. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous ventilation with intubation is a more physiological procedure than non-intubated spontaneous ventilation in terms of intraoperative blood pressure stability and gas exchange. The surgical results were similar in the two groups.

Conversion method to manage surgical difficulties in non-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for major lung resection: simple thoracotomy without intubation.

BACKGROUND: The major limitations of widespread use of non-intubated thoracic surgery (NITS) is the fear of managing complications. Here we present our practice of converting from uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) NITS to open NITS in cases of surgical complications. METHODS: The study period was from January 26, 2017, to November 30, 2018. Total intravenous anesthesia was provided with propofol guided by bispectral index, and the airway was maintained with a laryngeal mask with spontaneous breathing. Local anesthesia with 2% lidocaine at the skin incision, and intercostal and vagus nerve blockades were induced using 0.5% bupivacaine. For conversion with surgical indications, a thoracotomy was performed at the incision without additional local or general anesthetics. RESULTS: In 160 complete NITS procedures, there were 145 VATS NITS and 15 open NITS (9 conversions to open NITS and 6 intended NITS thoracotomies). In the 15 open NITS cases (2 pneumonectomies, 1 bilobectomy, 1 sleeve lobectomy, 7 lobectomies, 3 sublobar resections, 1 exploration), the mean operative time was 146.7 (105-225) and 110 (75-190) minutes in the converted and intended open NITS groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between systolic blood pressure (P=0.316; 95% CI, -10.469 to 3.742), sat O2% (P=0.27; 95% CI, -1.902 to 0.593), or propofol concentration in the effect site (P=0.053; 95% CI, -0.307 to 0.002) but significant differences in pulse (P=0.007; 95% CI, -10.001 to -2.72), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.013; 95% CI, -9.489 to -1.420) and in end-tidal CO2 (P=0.016; 95% CI, -7.484 to -0.952) before versus after thoracotomy, but there was no clinical relevance of the differences. CONCLUSIONS: For conversion with surgical indications during the VATS-NITS procedure, NITS thoracotomy can be performed safely at the site of the utility incision without the need for additional drugs, and the major lung resections can be performed through this approach.

Changes in the surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases during the last 12 years / A tüdometastasisok sebészi kezelésében történt változások az elmúlt 12 évben

INTRODUCTION: In our retrospective study, we examined changes in the histological results and types of metastatectomies of pulmonary metastases during the last 12 years, in two 5-year periods. AIM AND METHOD: There were 55 patients in the first group (2006-2010), 54.5% of the patients were male (n = 30), 45.5% were female (n = 25), the mean age was 57.9 years (24-80). The second group (2014-2018) consisted of 115 patients, with 60% male (n = 69) and 40% female (n = 46), the mean age was 62.2 years (26-82). RESULTS: During the first period, the primary tumor was found in the rectum 19.3% (n = 11), colon 17.5% (n = 10), or kidney 14% (n = 8), while during the second period, the primary tumor was in the colon in 23.1% (n = 31), in the rectum in 15.7% (n = 21), or in the kidney in 9% (n = 12). The following types of surgeries were performed: atypical resection: 38.6% (n = 22) and 46.3% (n = 62); lobectomy in 31.6% (n = 18) and 26.9% (n = 36); pulmonectomy in 10.5% (n = 6) and 1.5% (n = 2); segmentectomy in 7% (n = 4) and 9.7% (n = 13); and bilobectomy in 1.8% (n = 1) and 0.7% (n = 1) in the first and second group, respectively. The ratio of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was 5.3% (n = 3) during the first period, and this ratio increased to 64.9% (n = 87) during the second period. The mean disease-free survival between the surgery of the primary tumor and the removal of the pulmonary metastasis was 45.2 months (0-144) during the first period and 33.8 months (0-180) during the second period. The median survival was 39 months in the first period, and it increased to 59 months in the second group. The mean 5-year survival was 41% in both groups. CONCLUSION: During the last 12 years, there was a more than two-fold increase in the number of patients requiring surgery due to pulmonary metastases, and the ratio of VATS metastasectomy increased significantly as well (5.3% vs. 64.9%). No significant difference was found in the ratio of the types of the primary tumors. The median survival was slightly better in the second group. Orv Hetil; 161(29): 1215-1220.

[Successful multidisciplinary management of tetraplegia with a thoracic operation. Unicentric, mediastinal Castleman disease]. / Tetraplegia sikeres multidiszciplináris kezelése mellkassebészeti mutéttel. Unicentrikus mediastinalis Castleman-betegség esete.

Castleman disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disease the exact cause of which is not known. The diagnosis is based on the adequate histological examination. While in the unifocal form, the disease most commonly affects the chest, and symptoms may resolve as a result of intact excision of the tumour; other treatment methods may be performed in addition to or instead of surgical incision in the case of the multifocal form. We present the case of a patient with Castleman disease who received multidisciplinary treatment. Speech difficulty, dysphagia, and progressive paresis occurred in the upper and lower extremities of the 56-year-old male patient 18 weeks before his check-up examinations. Although the complaints temporarily resolved with plasmapheresis, surgical sampling could not confirm the origin of the mediastinal lymphadenomegaly detected with thoracic CT. The patient was admitted to our department to remove the 5 cm large subcarinal lymph node or to gain a tissue sample from it. On admission, significant atrophy, hypotonia and tetraplegia were seen in the four extremities, and areflexia was detected all over the body. The 5.5 × 3.5 cm large subcarinal lymph node conglomerate was removed from posterolateral thoracotomy. Histology was performed, Castleman disease was confirmed. 3 days after the surgery, the patient was able to move the extremities, and then on the 9th postoperative day, the patient could walk using a walking frame, and he was transferred back to the Department of Neurorehabilitation. At transfer, the muscle strength of the upper extremities was almost intact, and 4/5 muscle strength was detected in the lower extremities. After this, methylprednisolone, vitamin B1, calcium citrate, famotidine therapy was administered, and 2 weeks after his transfer, he was discharged home; at that time, the patient was able to walk safely without a walking frame. The symptoms resolved almost completely 3 months after the surgery. Diagnosis and treatment of Castleman disease are multidisciplinary tasks. If the patient is suitable for surgery, surgical removal has to play a key role in the treatment of unifocal Castleman disease. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(1): 33-38.

[Perioperative factors influencing the tolerability of chemotherapy after lung lobe resection]. / Tüdolebeny-eltávolítást követo kemoterápia tolerabilitását befolyásoló perioperatív tényezok.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the leading cause of malignancy-related deaths in Hungary, involving complex surgical and oncological treatment. AIM: Factors influencing the tolerability of complete/planned and incomplete postoperative chemotherapy after surgery were analyzed. METHOD: During a 6-year period (January 1, 2011-December 31, 2016), data of 72 patients operated with lung cancer (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), receiving complete (4 cycles) and incomplete (<4 cycles) postoperative chemotherapy were analyzed. The following factors among the two groups [complete: n = 53; incomplete: n = 19] were analyzed: gender, mean age, body mass index, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, Charlson Comorbidity Index, second malignant tumor, atrial fibrillation, Forced Expiratory Volume 1 sec, Performance Status, open/Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) lobectomy, duration of surgery, postoperative fever, need for transfusion, prolonged air leak, redo surgery, histology, tumor stage. RESULTS: The rate of complete postoperative cycles obtained from logistic regression analysis, were substantially higher after VATS lobectomies [n = 26 (83.87%)] compared to open procedures [n = 27 (65.85%)]; (p = 0.092; OR = 0.356), without significance. Multivariate analysis (open/VATS lobectomy, upper/middle-lower lobe resection, diabetes, prolonged air leak, postoperative fever) showed significantly increased successful uptake of complete cycles after VATS (p = 0.0495), while upper/middle lobe resections (p = 0.0678) and the lack of diabetes (p = 0.0971) notably increased the number of complete cycles, without significance. CONCLUSION: Twenty-six percent of patients were unable to receive complete planned postoperative chemotherapy. VATS lobectomy patients received significantly higher number of complete cycles of postoperative chemotherapy. Diabetes and lower lobe lobectomies had a negative effect on the tolerability of postoperative chemotherapy. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(19): 748-755.

The more the micropapillary pattern in stage I lung adenocarcinoma, the worse the prognosis-a retrospective study on digitalized slides.

Although the majority of lung adenocarcinomas show mixed pattern, only the predominant component is taken into account according to the novel classification. We evaluated the proportion of different patterns and their impact on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Patterns were recorded according to predominance and their proportions were rated and calculated by objective area measuring on digitalized, annotated slides of resected stage I lung adenocarcinomas. Spearman's rank correlation, Kaplan-Meier models and the log rank test were used for statistical evaluation. Two hundred forty-three stage I adenocarcinoma were included. Lepidic pattern is more frequent in tumours without recurrence (20 vs. 8%), and lepidic predominant tumours have favourable prognosis (OS 90.5%, DFS 89.4%), but proportions above 25% are not associated with improving outcome. Solid and micropapillary patterns are more frequent in patients with recurrence (48 vs. 5% and 13 vs. 4%) and predominance of each one is associated with unfavourable prognosis (OS 64.1%, DFS 56.3% and OS 28.1%, DFS 28.1%, respectively). Above 25%, a growing proportion of solid or micropapillary pattern is not associated with worsening prognosis. In contrast, tumours having micropapillary pattern as secondly predominant form a different intermediate group (OS 51.1%, DFS 57.8%). Our study was based on measured area of each growth pattern on all available slides digitalized. This is the most precise way of determining the size of each component from the material available. We propose using predominant and secondly predominant patterns for prognostic purposes, particularly in tumours having solid or micropapillary patterns.

[Non-intubated, uniportal, video assisted thoracic surgery [VATS] lobectomy, as a new procedure in our department]. / Nem intubált, spontán légzo betegnél, egy metszésbol, minimálisan invazív módon elvégzett tüdolebeny-eltávolítás mint új mutéti eljárás klinikánk gyakorlatában.

AIM: Due to the emerging experience in VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) lobectomies, in some centers the so called "non-intubated" VATS lobectomies (NITS - non-intubated thoracic surgery) gained increased authority, during which endotracheal intubation and muscle relaxation of the patient is not carried out, thus surgery is being performed with the patient breathing spontaneously. The recent study deals with our initial experience gained during uniportal NITS VATS lobectomies. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between 24.01.2017 and 10.03.2017, 16 patients (female: 8; male: 8) with lung cancer underwent NITS VATS uniportal lobectomy. Mean age was 59.6 years (42-73 years). Mean FEV1 was 87.7% (62-109). Mean BMI was 27.1 (18.8-32.8). Prior to surgery, the patients received benzodiazepine premedication, local anesthetic (Lidocaine) for incision and Bupivacaine for intercostal and vagus nerve blockage. Besides routine monitoring Bispectoral Index (BIS) guided target-controlled infusion (TCI) Propofol sedation was carried out, with the help of laryngeal mask anesthesia. Skin and soft tissue incision was performed at the fifth intercostal space, in the axillary line. This single incision sight was the only one needed for the introduction of the camera, together with the instruments needed for dissection and resection of the lobe and placement of the chest tube. Complete atelectasis can develop. The following lobes were removed: 7 right upper lobes, 2 mid-lobes, 1 right lower lobe, 1 right lower lobe + right upper lobe wedge resection, 5 left lower lobes. After the resections, extended mediastinal sampling or block dissection was performed. RESULTS: There was no perioperative mortality. Conversion to endotracheal intubation was needed in non of the cases. Mean operative time was 96,5 minutes (80-120 min.), mean drainage periode was 2.9 days (2-8 days). Prolonged air leak was 1/16 (6.25%). Postoperative fever occurred in 1 patient and subcutaneous emphysema in 1 case, and 1 pneumonia. Because of a recurrent pneumothorax, a re-drainage was necessary in 1 case. Pathology of the resected lobes were as follows: 1 endobronchial hamartochondroma causing complete atelectasis of the lobe, 1 chronic pneumonia, and 10 adenocarcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 carcinosarcoma, and 1 typical carcinoid. Staging of the 14 malignant cases were as follows: 8 IA, 2 IB, 1 IIA, 2 IIB, and 1 IIIA. The average number of the removed mediastinal lymph nodes is 12 (7-20). CONCLUSION: Non-intubated (NITS) VATS lobectomy is considered a safe procedure, satisfying all aspects of oncological guidelines. The postoperative drainage period was shorter caused by the complete atelectasis during the surgery.

[Results of the video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy at our department in the last five-year periode]. / Minimálisan invazív tüdolebeny-eltávolítás eredményei osztályunk ötéves anyagában.

OBJECTIVES: Herein we present the results of lobectomies performed with minimally invasive approach (video-assisted thoracic surgery - VATS) at our department during a period of five years. METHODS: Between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015, 197 lobectomies (malignant lesions: 176 cases, benign lesions: 21 cases) were performed by three thoracic surgeons and one resident. Demographical data are as follows: 119 female/78 male, mean age: 62.4 years (range: 41-82 years). In 2011 three VATS lobectomies were performed, equaling 2.2 % of all lobectomies in that year. During the upcomig years the number of VATS lobectomies were as follows: 2012: 7 (7.3%), 2013: 13 (12%), 2014: 59 (34.5%) and 2015: 119 (68.5%). In 153 cases multiportal (78%) and in 44 cases uniportal (22%) anterior approach was performed. The resected lobes showed the following distribution: right upper: 85, mid lobe: 5, right lower: 28, left upper: 44, left lower: 34, upper bilobectomy: 1. In two cases sleeve lobectomy was performed. In 8 cases (4%) conversion to thoracotomy was needed and among the 46 uniportal procedures, 5 cases needed to be expanded into biportal approach (11%). RESULTS: During the study period, no intraoperative, or perioperative mortality occured. Mean operative time was 123 minutes (range: 60-135 minutes) and mean time of chest drainage was 4.3 days (range: 1-27 days). Air leakage lasting more than 7 days was present in 11.7%. Reoperation was needed in 4 cases (2%), in two cases due to bleeding, and in two cases because of expansive difficulties due to extended subcutaneous emphysema. Among the 176 VATS lobectomies performed due to malignant lesions, 169 lung cancers and 7 metastases were removed. The distribution according to the stage and histology of lung cancers was as follows: IA: 100 cases, IB: 28 cases, IIA: 17 cases, IIB: 3 cases, IIIA: 16 cases, IIIB: 1 case, and IV: 4 cases; adenocarcinoma: 128 cases, squamous cell carcinoma: 26 cases, large cell carcinoma: 3 cases, small cell lung cancer: 1 case, typical carcinoid: 10 cases, and atypical carcinoid: 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Over the years VATS lobectomy became a rutin procedure at our institution. Nowadays more than two-thirds of lobectomies are performed with minimally invasive technique. Taking the learning curve of the four thoracic surgeons into consideration, our results correlate with international data.

Myasthenia gravis miatt végzett három különbözo típusú csecsemomirigy-eltávolítás sebészeti és korai neurológiai eredményei.

OBJECTIVES: Different methods of open or minimally invasive thymectomies have been recommended for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). We compared the results of standard transsternal thymectomy (TS) and two different types of minimally invasive thymectomies [video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) and classic Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (cVATS)] performed at the same department. METHODS: During three different time periods 71 patients (60 female and 11 male; mean age 31 [range, 14-84] years) underwent thymectomy for MG. Twenty-three underwent standard transsternal thymectomy (January 1995 - September 2004), 22 VATET (September 2004 - August 2009), and 26 cVATS (September 2009 - December 2011) thymectomy for the right side. Operative data, MG- and surgery-related postoperative morbidity and early improvement of MG during the initial 1-year follow-up period were compared among the three methods. RESULTS: There were no perioperative deaths during the study period. Operative time was 112, 211, and 116 minutes (p = 0.001) in the TS, VATET and cVATS, respectively, and the length of hospital stay was 8.9, 5.6, and 4.0 (p = 0.001) days. Postoperative MG-related neurological morbidity affected 21.7%, 18.2%, and 7.7% (p = 0.365) of the patients and the surgery-related morbidity rate was 4.3%, 13.7%, and 0% (p = 0.118) in the TS, VATET and cVATS groups, respectively. Symptom improvement rates were 91.3%, 94.7%, and 87.5% (p = 0.712), and complete remission rates were 13%, 10.5%, and 11.5% (p = 0.917) after TS, VATET and cVATS thymectomies, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of operative time and hospital stay the best results were found after cVATS. The use of a less invasive surgical intervention resulted in less surgical-, and MG related neurological complications. The improvement of MG symptoms was excellent and results were similar after different types of thymectomies.

[Is daily chest X-ray necessary after lung resection? Evidence-based decision making]. / Szükséges-e a naponkénti rutinmellkasröntgen tüdoresectio után? Bizonyítékalapú döntési taktika.

OBJECTIVES: The 'gold standard' practice following insertion of a chest tube after lobectomy is daily chest radiography (CXR), but this is not always followed. We compared the outcomes associated with the use of these two methods in our practice. METHODS: Data from 148 patients who underwent uncomplicated lobectomies with insertion of one chest drain were analysed. In the routine CXR group (R-CXR) (50 patients), an immediate postoperative CXR, daily routine radiography during the drainage period, and one after surgical drain removal were performed. In the symptomatic CXR group (S-CXR) (98 patients), a CXR was performed only for symptomatic patients (fever, hypoxia, subcutaneous emphysema, air leak) and/or a single radiograph was taken after surgical drain removal. The following postoperative data were compared: fever, CXR abnormalities (pneumothorax, fluid, atelectasis, subcutaneous emphysema, haematoma), number of radiographs, drainage time, and new drain insertion. RESULTS: The mean chest tube duration was 3.7 and 3.8 days in the R-CXR and S-CXR groups, respectively. Abnormal CXRs after surgical drain removal were reported in 50% (25/50) and 46.9% (46/96) (p = 0.724) of patients in the R-CXR and S-CXR groups, respectively, but new drain insertion was only necessary in 3/25 (12%) and 7/46 (15.2%) of these cases. The mean number of CXRs for each patient was 5.0 and 2.3 (p = 0.0001) in the R-CXR and S-CXR groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: If CXRs are limited to symptomatic patients then the number of radiographs can be reduced by around 50%. There were no more postoperative complications or abnormal final CXR findings if the CXR was only ordered for symptomatic patients instead of as 'daily routine' during the postoperative period. Only 12-15% of the CXR abnormalities required surgical intervention.