Clinical assessment and monitoring of chest radiographs

Abstract

This chapter reviews the main problems in obtaining portable X-rays in intensive cardiac care unit patients and describes specific features of radiographs taken in the supine anteroposterior position. It also includes a brief review of a systematic, multistep approach of evaluating the quality of radiographic images and describing the chest wall, pulmonary vasculature, the heart and its chambers, the great vessels, and the position of tubes, lines, and devices. This chapter covers the most common conditions for which chest radiographs are useful and provides intensive cardiac care unit physicians, cardiologists, cardiology fellows, and medical students with basic information on water retention, air collection, and lung-related problems. It also focuses on the monitoring of line and device placements (e.g. central venous catheters, tube malposition) and procedure-related abnormalities, which may be apparent on chest X-rays and are helpful for timely diagnoses.