Many people have a chest X-ray before they have surgery. This is called a “pre-op” chest X-ray. “Pre-op” stands for preoperative, which means that it is before an operation, or surgery.

If you have a heart or lung disease, you may want to get a pre-op chest X-ray. It can show medical problems, like an enlarged heart, congestive heart failure, or fluid around the lungs. These could mean that your surgery should be delayed or cancelled. However, if you don’t have signs or symptoms of a heart or lung disease, you should think twice about having a chest X-ray before surgery.

When should you have a chest X-ray?

It is a good idea to have a chest X-ray before you have surgery or before you go into the hospital if:

• You have signs or symptoms of a heart or lung condition. These include chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, swelling in the ankles, fever, a recent heart attack, or a cold or other lung infection that does not go away.
• You have a heart or lung disease, whether or not you have symptoms, and you have not had a chest X-ray within the last six months.
• You are older than 70 and you have not had a chest X-ray within the last six months.
• You are having surgery on the heart, lungs, or any other part of the chest, and you have not had a chest X-ray within the last six months.

Diagnostic Tests: chest X-rays, CXR

Procedures: surgery, preoperative, pre-op assessment