Preoperative Chest Radiography in Elective Surgery: Review and Update.

Introduction: The preoperative evaluation is designed to identify factors that may predispose a patient to perioperative complications in an effort to ensure patient safety. The use of chest radiography in the preoperative evaluation has progressed from routine testing to a more selective approach based on evidence that routine testing is low yield. However, preoperative chest radiography (POCR) may still be utilized more frequently than necessary as guidelines provide varying recommendations and providers continue to order the test by convention.