Is routine chest X-ray necessary after thorax tube removal?

Aims: The aim of our study was to investigate whether routine control chest radiography is necessary after chest tube removal. Methods: The study was conducted on patients with chest tube insertion at Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital. It was designed as a retrospective and descriptive study. Patients who had a chest tube inserted between the ages of 18 and 90, from 2017 and 2022, were included in the study. In the patients included in the study, abnormal findings observed in the control X-Ray after the chest tube removal, repeated X-Ray and computed tomography images, additional hospitalization periods, and additional medical procedures, if any, were determined. The findings obtained were discussed in light of the current literature and the necessity of control X-Ray application. Results: A total of 351 patients who had chest tubes inserted during the specified dates were evaluated. 177 patients [126 men (71.1%), 51 women (28.9%)] were included in the study. Repeat X-Rays were required in 18 (10.1%) patients. Additional CT was required in only 3 (1.7%) patients. Of the 177 patients included, 160 (90.4%) did not require additional hospitalization. Additional hospitalization and clinical follow-up were performed in 17 patients. None of the 177 patients required additional intervention. Conclusion: Our study showed that routine control X-Rays are not necessary after chest tube removal. We recommend that control X-Rays be reserved for symptomatic patients only.