CHEST PA VIEW

Chest PA View

The Posteroanterior (PA) Chest View commonly known as Chest PA Viewis conducted to examine the health condition of lungs, mediastinum, bony thoracic cavity, and great vessels. The chest X-ray is considered as the most common radiological investigation in the emergency department. The special Chest PA View is required to diagnosevarious chronic and acute conditions which involve all organs of the thoracic cavity. Additionally, this specific Chest PA ViewX-Ray serves as the most sensitive plain radiograph for the detection of free intra-peritoneal gas or pneumoperitoneum in patients with acute abdominal pain.

Patient’s Position to be maintained during the process:

1. Patient should face the upright image receptor - the superior aspect of the receptor is 5 cm above the shoulder joints
2. The chin is raised
3. Shoulders are bent to allow the scapulae to move laterally off the lung fields, and this can be achieved by either:

• Hands placed on the posterior aspect of the hips, elbows partially flexed rolling anterior or
• Hands are placed around the image receptor in a hugging motion with a focus on the lateral movement of the scapulae
• Shoulders are made to move the clavicles below the lung apices

The PA Chest View X-ray is generally used to investigate various conditions and it is the radiographer's responsibility to ensure high-quality diagnostic images are achieved consistently. Radiologists usually explain to patients in advanceabout what and how they to perform the test.