Utility of Routine Chest Radiographs after Chest Drain Removal in Paediatric Cardiac Surgical Patients-A Retrospective Analysis of 1076 Patients.

The incidence of clinically significant pneumothorax/pleural effusion following chest drain removal after paediatric cardiac surgery is low (<1%). Most patients did not require reinsertion of a chest drain. It is reasonable not to perform routine chest radiographs following chest drain removal in most paediatric cardiac surgical patients.