Abstract:
Background: Respiratory system pathologies are one of the most frequent causes of hospital admission for patients to chronic dialysis. Chest
X-ray is an accessible and cost-effective way to diagnose such comorbidities and guide their management. The study aim was to assess the
efficiency of follow-up chest X-rays performed twice per year for evaluation of chronic dialysis in outpatients.
Material and methods: The study included 350 outpatients who underwent dialysis in Chisinau Dialysis unit of “BB-Dializa” S.R.L. during
2016. Basing on the National Clinical Protocol each patient except those on holiday dialysis underwent a chest X-ray in 3 projections twice
per year. Additional chest X-rays could be performed if clinically indicated.
Results: Simple chest X-ray in 3 projections has demonstrated to be an efficient instrument in diagnosis of both acute and chronic pulmonary,
mediastinal and cardiac pathology. During the study period, 2 cases of BAAR+ tuberculosis were diagnosed and successfully treated. A
total of 12 cases of pneumonia, 26 cases of chronic bronchitis, 1 case of primary lung cancer and 1 case of pulmonary metastases were also
diagnosed at the routine follow-up chest X-rays. A total of 9 patients required hospital admission, while the rest underwent ambulatory
treatment. Further investigations of the patient with lung metastases revealed a pancreatic malignancy.
Conclusions: Proposed imaging management approach to the chronic dialysis outpatients has demonstrated its viability and efficiency in
this cohort of 350 outpatients.
Description:
Euromed Diagnostic, Department of Radiology and Imaging, Nicolae Testemitsanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova, The IVth Congress of Radiology and Medical Imaging of the Republic of Moldova with international participation, Chisinau, May 31 – June 2, 2018
