Diagnostic accuracy of portable chest radiograph in mechanically ventilated patients when compared with autopsy findings.

Purpose: Evaluate diagnostic accuracy of portable chest radiograph in mechanically ventilated patients taking autopsy findings as the gold standard and the interobserver agreement among intensivists and radiologists.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of 422 patients over 22 years who died in the ICU, underwent an autopsy, and had at least one portable chest radiograph 72 h prior to death. Two intensivists and two radiologists independently read each chest radiograph.