Routine screening chest computed tomography (CT) prior to primary cardiac surgery is advocated by some surgeons due to the purported benefits of identifying significant aortic calcification that impacts ongoing management, such as performing anaortic off-pump surgery or adjusting cannulation strategy. Additionally, axial imaging can identify incidental findings that may require concomitant or staged procedures such as ascending aortic dilatation or pulmonary lesions. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact that nonselective chest CT prior to primary cardiac surgery had on subsequent management.

A systematic review and pooled prevalence meta-analyses were performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Included studies performed non-selective chest CT prior to primary cardiac surgery.

A total of eight studies, including 2,250 patients were included. The rate of mortality and stroke was low (1% and 2%, respectively). Calcification of the ascending aorta was identified in 15% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.0–26.0). A significant change to the surgical plan such as cannulation strategy, off-pump surgery, cancellation, or an additional procedure was required in 7% (95% CI 2.0–12.0). Clinically relevant incidental findings requiring in-patient management or follow-up were identified in 10% (95% CI 6.0–14.0).

Nonselective CT chest prior to primary cardiac surgery identifies clinically relevant findings that result in a modification of the surgical plan in a significant population of patients to address the risk of stroke associated with aortic calcification as well as the identification of important incidental findings such as pulmonary lesions.