Role of Chest Ultrasound in Detection of Post-operative Pulmonary Complications After Cardiothoracic Surgery

It is well known that cardiothoracic surgery causes different types of pulmonary complications like residual pleural effusion and pneumothorax therefore it is common that surgeons make a thoracic drainage by introducing intercostal tubes for evacuation of air and fluid from the pleural space. Complications extend to involve the parenchymal pulmonary tissue causing consolidation or involve the interstitial tissue .all these complications affect the postoperative recovery.

As a classical technique a daily chest X-ray is performed from first day of surgical intervention to hospital discharge to assess the amount of residual pleural effusion so drainage removal can be done or not and also assess other pulmonary complications.

However, chest X-rays are costly, exposing patients and health care workers to ionizing radiation requiring patient movement with chest drains, difficult positioning of the patient to get good films, and time consuming.

On the other hand, using chest ultrasound is a good alternative for chest X-ray because it is a bedside, easier, more sensitive and accurate in detection of pulmonary complications.

Its main advantages represented in avoiding the danger of ionizing radiations, easier device portability, low cost and a rapid learning curve.