The goal of this observational study is to find out whether routine chest X-rays after surgery actually change patient care, and whether lung ultrasound could be a suitable alternative for detecting important postoperative findings in adults undergoing same-day bilateral thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis or facial flushing. The main questions it aims to answer are:
How often does a routine postoperative chest X-ray change clinical management? Can lung ultrasound detect relevant postoperative findings as effectively as chest X-ray? Researchers will compare lung ultrasound results and the treatment decision that would have been made based on ultrasound alone with the actual treatment decision based on chest X-ray to see if using lung ultrasound first, with chest X-ray only when needed, could reduce radiation exposure and imaging costs without affecting care.
Participants will:
Have a routine chest X-ray after surgery. Have a lung ultrasound exam in the recovery unit before the chest X-ray result is known.
Have their postoperative care recorded based on the actual chest X-ray result. Be monitored for short-term outcomes after discharge.
Adults aged 18 years or older with a scheduled bilateral thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis or facial flushing.
Same-day discharge surgery planned.
Signed informed consent.
Previous ipsilateral or bilateral thoracic surgery.
Chest wall deformity
Intraoperative conversion.
Complication requiring hospitalization.
The study population consists of adult patients aged 18 years or older who are scheduled to undergo outpatient bilateral thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis or facial flushing, with same-day discharge planned. The study is focused on patients treated in a single institution under routine clinical practice, where postoperative chest X-ray is part of the current standard of care. Only patients who provide written informed consent are included. This population is intended to represent ambulatory adults undergoing elective bilateral thoracic sympathectomy, while excluding patients with conditions that could interfere with standardized postoperative lung ultrasound assessment or alter the usual outpatient pathway, such as previous thoracic surgery, significant chest wall deformity, or intraoperative complications requiring hospitalization.
Cohort
Prospective
Not listed
Lung US
Features of Lung US examination; Presence the lung sliding in 2D mode and seashore sign in M-mode. The probe will be placed in 3 points of examination per side according blue protocol for lung US ( anterior area, mid anterior and postero lateral ).
Chest X-RAY
Chest X-RAY report by radiologist with the presence of one of the following: Visceral Pleural Line: A crisp, thin, hair-like white line contouring the edge of the lung parenchyma, separated from the inner thoracic wall. Absence of Bronchovascular Markings: The peripheral space between the visceral pleural line and the chest wall (the pleural space) is hyperlucent (pure black) and completely devoid of pulmonary vessels and lung architecture. Increased Volume / Shift of the Collapsed Lung: The underlying lung shrinks toward the hilum, becoming denser (more radiopaque) as alveolar air decreases.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
