Objective To study the radiographic findings of the chest in patients after open heart surgery and its evaluating methods.Methods 236 cases after open heart surgery were divided into 3 groups according to the date of the first postoperative chest films:0~3 d,4~7 d and 8 d or more.The findings on pre and postoperative chest films were compared in 7 aspects respectively.Results 8 typses of complications were detected including severe ones such as acute pulmonary edema,the low cardiac output syndrome and ARDS.The incidences of widening of the mediastinum,pleural effusion and pulmonary interstitial edema were lower in over 8 d group than those in the other two groups(?