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Research Article
Chest pain in the accident and emergency department: is chest radiography worthwhile?
  1. P A Templeton,
  2. W A McCallion,
  3. L A McKinney,
  4. H K Wilson
  1. Accident and Emergency Department, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    Abstract

    Four per cent of patients attend the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) present with chest pain. In this prospective study of 297 patients the value of chest radiography is assessed. Overall, 23% of chest X-rays (CXRs) had an abnormality which influenced management of the patient, rising to 40% in those patients admitted to Coronary Care. Twenty-nine per cent of CXRs were misinterpreted by Casualty Officers but resulted in the mismanagement of only six patients (3.3%). Potentially serious errors were averted by early CXR audit by a Radiologist.

    https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.8.2.97

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