Diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein and white blood cell counts in the early detection of inflammatory complications after open resection of colorectal cancer: a retrospective study of 1,187 patients

Early Detection and Monitoring of Anastomotic Leaks via Naked Eye-Readable, Non-Electronic Macromolecular Network Sensors

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is the leaking of non-sterile gastrointestinal contents into a patient's abdominal cavity. AL is one of the most dreaded complications following gastrointestinal surgery, with mortality rates reaching up to 27%. The current diagnostic methods for anastomotic leaks are limited in sensitivity and specificity. Since the timing of detection directly impacts patient outcomes, developing new, fast, and simple methods for early leak detection is crucial. Here, a naked eye-readable, electronic-free macromolecular network drain fluid sensor is introduced for continuous monitoring and early detection of AL at the patient's bedside. The sensor array comprises three different macromolecular network sensing elements, each tailored for selectivity toward the three major digestive enzymes found in the drainage fluid during a developing AL. Upon digestion of the macromolecular network structure by the respective digestive enzymes, the sensor produces an optical shift discernible to the naked eye. The diagnostic efficacy and clinical applicability of these sensors are demonstrated using clinical samples from 32 patients, yielding a Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve (ROC AUC) of 1.0. This work has the potential to significantly contribute to improved patient outcomes through continuous monitoring and early, low-cost, and reliable AL detection.

Role of Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Anastomotic Leakage After Colorectal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Due to its diverse presentation, anastomotic leakage (AL) following colorectal surgery is challenging to detect and frequently discovered when the patient becomes critically ill. When diagnosing AL in its early stages, biomarkers play a large role. This review was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of biomarkers in AL after colorectal surgeries. A literature search was undertaken electronically in major search engines such as Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, and CENTRAL (Cochrane Library) databases. Observational studies of both retrospective and prospective nature were included. Origin Pro 2022 (Origin Labs) software was used to assess the prevalence of AL and generate the forest plot. A total of 13 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria. A pooled prevalence of 9.19% was noted for AL in colorectal surgeries. In the present review, the observed sensitivity for C-reactive protein (CRP) was 80.5% and the specificity was 84% (postoperative day three). In contrast, these were 100% and 83.9% for procalcitonin on postoperative day five. CRP showed the highest diagnostic accuracy and excels at eliminating AL, but combining biomarkers can increase the diagnostic precision of early detection of AL.

C‐reactive protein as an early predictor of anastomotic dehiscence in various types of reconstruction in elective abdominal surgery

Objective

The most important factor in abdominal surgery is the successful healing of the intestinal anastomosis performed. This study aims to evaluate the role of C‐reactive protein (CRP) in predicting anastomotic dehiscence in the first week following surgery.

Methods

The study included 100 patients surgically treated over a period of 1 year. Postoperative (p/o) values of CRP, leukocyte (white blood cells [WBCs]) and body temperature (BT) were measured in relation to the development of p/o complications.

Results

CRP p/o values were significantly higher in patients with complications and proved helpful in predicting p/o complications, while WBC and BT were not. For the development of anastomotic leakage, receiver operating characteristic curve shows the earliest diagnostic accuracy on the third p/o day with the cut‐off value of 115.1 mg/L; however, the largest area under the curve was on the fifth p/o day with a cut‐off value of 59.2 mg/L, a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 61%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 21.9 and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100.

Conclusions

Measurement of p/o CRP values may indicate problematic healing of digestive tract anastomosis before the appearance of clinical signs. High sensitivity and high NPV allow us to rule out p/o complications and anastomotic dehiscence with great certainty and safely discharge these patients from the hospital.

Antimicrobial Challenge in Acute Care Surgery

The burden of infections in acute care surgery (ACS) is huge. Surgical emergencies alone account for three million admissions per year in the United States (US) with estimated financial costs of USD 28 billion per year. Acute care facilities and ACS patients represent boost sanctuaries for the emergence, development and transmission of infections and multi-resistant organisms. According to the World Health Organization, healthcare-associated infections affected around 4 million cases in Europe and 1.7 million in the US alone in 2011 with 39,000 and 99,000 directly attributable deaths, respectively. In this scenario, antimicrobial resistance arose as a public-health emergency that worsens patients' morbidity and mortality and increases healthcare costs. The optimal patient care requires the application of comprehensive evidence-based policies and strategies aiming at minimizing the impact of healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance, while optimizing the treatment of intra-abdominal infections. The present review provides a snapshot of two hot topics, such as antimicrobial resistance and systemic inflammatory response, and three milestones of infection management, such as source control, infection prevention, and control and antimicrobial stewardship.

The utility of serum osteopontin levels for predicting postoperative complications after colorectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND/AIM

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secretory glycoprotein, which is expressed not only in osteoblasts, but immune cells including macrophages and activated T cells. Its pleiotropic immune functions, such as bone remodeling, cancer progression, immune response, and inflammation have been reported previously. However, the association between OPN and postoperative complications (POC) after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery has not been studied, so far.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were collected before (pre) and immediately after surgery (post), and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. Serum OPN levels were measured by ELISA. In total, 78 patients who underwent elective CRC surgery were divided into the No-POC (n = 54) and POC (n = 24) groups.

RESULTS

The POC group had significantly higher OPN levels than the No-POC group throughout the postoperative observation period. The maximum OPN levels from pre- to postsurgical samples showed the best predictive potential for POCs (cut off: 20.75 ng/mL, area under the curve: 0.724) and were correlated with length of postoperative stays. OPN values were significantly correlated with C-reactive protein on POD3 and were identified as an independent predictive marker for POCs (odds ratio: 3.88, 95% CI: 1.175-12.798, P = 0.026). The severity of POCs was reflected in increased OPN levels.

CONCLUSION

Increased postoperative OPN was associated with increased postoperative inflammatory host responses and POC after CRC surgery. Serum OPN level may be a useful biomarker for early prediction of POC and it may provide additional information for treatment decisions to prevent POC.

Association of a Single Post-Operative Day Three C-Reactive Protein Value with Anastomotic Complications after Colorectal Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: Early detection and treatment of a colorectal anastomotic leak reduces leak-associated morbidity. The primary objective of this study was to assess the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a tool to facilitate the early diagnosis of large bowel anastomotic leak. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study at a specialized colorectal unit of a tertiary referral teaching center where we recorded CRP levels pre-operatively and on day three for 113 patients undergoing a large bowel anastomosis. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of anastomotic leak and its association with post-operative day three CRP levels (day one considered as 24 hours after surgery). The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for the day three CRP value with the anastomotic leak was calculated and optimal cutoffs derived. Definitions and diagnostic criteria for a leak were established before commencing the study. Demographic, operative, diagnostic, and interventional procedure data were also recorded. Results: Twenty-two patients had an anastomotic leak (19.4%), and 14 (12.3%) required re-exploration or drain placement. The cutoff value of day three CRP with the greatest area under the ROC curve in the ROC curve analysis was 166 mg/L (area under the curve [AUC], 0.853) for open and laparoscopic procedures (sensitivity and specificity of 81.81% and 82.42%, respectively) with a negative predictive value of 93.8%. There was no difference in mean day three CRP levels between open and laparoscopic surgery (116.57 mg/L vs. 108.94 mg/L) Conclusions: A CRP value of more than 166 mg/L on day three should raise suspicion of an anastomotic leak.

Usefulness of serum C-reactive protein and calprotectin for the early detection of colorectal anastomotic leakage: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) is one of the most dreaded complications after colorectal surgery, with an incidence that can be as high as 27%. This event is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; therefore, its early diagnosis is crucial to reduce clinical consequences and costs. Some biomarkers have been suggested as laboratory tools for the diagnosis of CAL.

AIM

To assess the usefulness of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and calprotectin (CLP) as early predictors of CAL.

METHODS

A prospective monocentric observational study was conducted including patients who underwent colorectal resection with anastomosis, from March 2017 to August 2019. Patients were divided into three groups: G1 – no complications; G2 – complications not related to CAL; and G3 – CAL. Five biomarkers were measured and analyzed in the first 5 postoperative days (PODs), namely white blood cell (WBC) count, eosinophil cell count (ECC), CRP, CLP, and procalcitonin (PCT). Clinical criteria, such as abdominal pain and clinical condition, were also assessed. The correlation between biomarkers and CAL was evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compare the accuracy of these biomarkers as predictors of CAL, and the area under the ROC curve (AUROC), specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (NPV) during this period were estimated.

RESULTS

In total, 25 of 396 patients developed CAL (6.3%), and the mean time for this diagnosis was 9.0 ± 6.8 d. Some operative characteristics, such as surgical approach, blood loss, intraoperative complications, and duration of the procedure, were notably related to the development of CAL. The length of hospital stay was markedly higher in the group that developed CAL compared with the group with complications other than CAL and the group with no complications (median of 21 d vs 13 d and 7 d respectively; P < 0.001). For abdominal pain, the best predictive performance was on POD4 and POD5, with the largest AUROC of 0.84 on POD4. Worsening of the clinical condition was associated with the diagnosis of CAL, presenting a higher predictive effect on POD5, with an AUROC of 0.9. WBC and ECC showed better predictive effects on POD5 (AUROC = 0.62 and 0.7, respectively). Those markers also presented a high NPV (94%-98%). PCT had the best predictive effect on POD5 (AUROC = 0.61), although it presented low accuracy. However, this biomarker revealed a high NPV on POD3, POD4, and POD5 (96%, 95%, and 96%, respectively). The mean CRP value on POD5 was significantly higher in the group that developed CAL compared with the group without complications (195.5 ± 139.9 mg/L vs 59.5 ± 43.4 mg/L; P < 0.00001). On POD5, CRP had a NPV of 98%. The mean CLP value on POD3 was significantly higher in G3 compared with G1 (5.26 ± 3.58 μg/mL vs 11.52 ± 6.81 μg/mL; P < 0.00005). On POD3, the combination of CLP and CRP values showed a high diagnostic accuracy (AUROC = 0.82), providing a 5.2 d reduction in the time to CAL diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

CRP and CLP are moderate predictors of CAL. However, the combination of these biomarkers presents an increased diagnostic accuracy, potentially decreasing the time to CAL diagnosis.

Systemic inflammatory markers differentiate between orbital cellulitis and non-specific orbital inflammation

PURPOSE

Bacterial orbital cellulitis (OC) and diffuse non-specific orbital inflammation (DNSOI) may be challenging to differentiate clinically. This study investigates the utility of systemic inflammatory markers, namely white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP), in differentiating between OC and DNSOI.

METHODS

A single-centre retrospective study of patients diagnosed with OC or DNSOI, between 2003 to 2021, who had WCC and/or CRP obtained at presentation. The mean levels of these factors and the proportion of positivity were compared between OC and DNSOI. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to calculate the specificity and sensitivity of WCC or CRP in each group.

RESULTS

49 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 56 ± 20 years, and 21 patients were females. 26 (53.1%) patients had OC, and 23 (46.9%) patients had DNSOI. Mean WCC for OC and DNSOI were 14.5 × 10³/μL and 9.27 × 10³/μL, respectively (P = 0.001). Mean CRP for OC and DNSOI were 104.4 mg/L and 10.0 mg/L, respectively (P < 0.001). The optimal CRP cut-off value of 20.2 mg/L demonstrated 90.9% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity (AUC = 0.946, P < 0.001) for differentiating between OC and DNSOI. CRP was more predictive of OC than WCC (P = 0.017). 7/26 (26.9%) OC patients with fever also had an elevated CRP, while 1/23 (4.3%) of DNSOI with fever had a normal CRP.

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated WCC is suggestive of OC. However, a normal WCC can neither exclude nor differentiate between OC and DNSOI. CRP may be a more accurate predictor of OC compared to WCC.

C-reactive protein monitoring after ileocecal resection and stoma closure reduces length of hospital stay: a prospective case-matched study in 410 patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate a C-reactive protein (CRP)-driven monitoring discharge strategy for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) undergoing laparoscopic ileo-cecal resection (ICR) and if needed, temporary stoma closure (SC).

METHODS

Four hundred and ten patients who underwent laparoscopic ICR for CD: 153 patients (CRP group) between June 2016 and June 2020 at our department, had a CRP-driven monitoring discharge on postoperative day (POD) 3 and were discharged on POD 4 if CRP < 100 mg/L. These patients were matched (according to age, sex, body mass index, type of CD (and stoma or not) to 257 patients who underwent laparoscopic ICR for CD between January 2009 and May 2016, without CRP monitoring (Control group). For SC, 79 patients with CRP monitoring were matched with 88 control patients. Primary outcome was overall length of hospital stay (LHS). Secondary outcomes were discharge on POD 4 for SC and POD 4 and POD 6 for ICR, 3-month postoperative overall morbidity and severe morbidity rates, surgical site infection, readmission rates, and CRP level in cases of morbidity at 3 months.

RESULTS

For ICR without stoma, mean LHS was significantly shorter in the CRP group than in the control group (6.9 ± 2 days vs 8.3 ± 6 days, p = 0.017). Discharge occurred on POD 6 (or before) in 73% of the patients (CRP group) vs 60% (Control group) (p = 0.027). For ICR with stoma, LHS was 8 days for both groups (p = 0.612). For SC, LHS was significantly shorter in the CRP group than in the control group (5.5 ± 3 days vs 7.1 ± 4 days; p = 0.002). Discharge occurred on POD 4 in 62% (CRP group) vs 30% (Control) (p = 0.003). Postoperative 3-month overall and severe morbidity, and rehospitalization rates were similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CRP-driven monitoring discharge strategy after laparoscopic ICR for CD is associated with a significant reduction of LHS, without increasing morbidity, reoperation or rehospitalisation rates.

Postoperative CRP Levels Can Rule out Anastomotic Leaks in Crohn’s Disease Patients

Background: In colorectal cancer, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on postoperative days 3–4 have a strong negative predictive value for an anastomotic leak, with threshold values of ~15 on post-operative day (POD) 3 and ~13 on POD 4. In Crohn’s disease, CRP levels are perceived as unreliable in the postoperative period because of the underlying inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to determine whether postoperative CRP levels can be used to rule out anastomotic leaks in patients with Crohn’s disease and to set CRP threshold values for this population. Methods: This was a retrospective study of a population of Crohn’s disease patients who underwent surgery with bowel anastomoses at a single high-volume center between 1/2012 and 12/2017. The operations were performed by a single colorectal consultant who is an inflammatory bowel disease specialist. Results: Ninety-two operations were performed. A CRP level of 19.56 mg/dL on postoperative day 3 had an area under the curve of 0.865 (sensitivity 88%, specificity 73%) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98% for an anastomotic leak. Patients with an anastomotic leak showed a trend towards decreased postoperative albumin levels (p = 0.06). Conclusions: Mean CRP levels and CRP threshold values were indeed higher in the study population compared with those in colorectal cancer patients. Threshold values were set at 20.3 mg/dL on POD 3, 19.5 mg/dL on POD 4 and 16.7 mg/dL on POD 5. These values had high NPVs and can be used to rule out anastomotic leaks in patients with Crohn’s disease after surgery with bowel anastomosis.

C-Reactive Protein as a Marker of Postoperative Complication of Emergency Colorectal Surgery

Introduction The literature converges regarding the use of C-reactive protein (CRP) tests between postoperative days (PODs) 3 and 5 of elective procedures. In this period, they have great sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) for severe and anastomotic complications about two days before the first clinical sign. The few studies on colorectal urgency suggest that, despite the different initial values according to the surgical indication, following POD 3, the level of CRP is similar to that of elective procedures. However, given the heterogeneity of the studies, there is no consensus on the cutoff values for this use.

Objective To validate the use and propose a PO CRP cut-off value in urgent colorectal procedures as an exclusion criterion for complications of anastomosis or the abdominal cavity.

Method Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 308 patients who underwent urgent colorectal surgical procedures between January 2017 and December 2019. The following data were considered: age, gender, surgical indication, type of procedure performed, complications, CRP levels preoperatively and from POD 1 to 4, and the severity of the complications. We compared the CRP levels and the percentage variations between the preoperative period and PODs 1 to 4 as markers of severe complications using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results The levels of CRP on POD4, and their percentage drops between PODs 2 to 4 and PODs 3 to 4, were better to predict severe complications. A cutoff of 7.45 mg/dL on POD 4 had 91.7% of sensitivity and NPV. A 50% drop between PODs 3 and 4 had 100% of sensitivity and NPV.

Conclusion Determining the level of CRP is useful to exclude severe complications, and it could be a criterion for hospital discharge in POD 4 of emergency colorectal surgery.

Diagnostic Challenges in Sepsis

Purpose of Review

Sepsis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Groundbreaking international collaborative efforts have culminated in the widely accepted surviving sepsis guidelines, with iterative improvements in management strategies and definitions providing important advances in care for patients. Key to the diagnosis of sepsis is identification of infection, and whilst the diagnostic criteria for sepsis is now clear, the diagnosis of infection remains a challenge and there is often discordance between clinician assessments for infection.

Recent Findings

We review the utility of common biochemical, microbiological and radiological tools employed by clinicians to diagnose infection and explore the difficulty of making a diagnosis of infection in severe inflammatory states through illustrative case reports. Finally, we discuss some of the novel and emerging approaches in diagnosis of infection and sepsis.

Summary

While prompt diagnosis and treatment of sepsis is essential to improve outcomes in sepsis, there remains no single tool to reliably identify or exclude infection. This contributes to unnecessary antimicrobial use that is harmful to individuals and populations. There is therefore a pressing need for novel solutions. Machine learning approaches using multiple diagnostic and clinical inputs may offer a potential solution but as yet these approaches remain experimental.

Diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and neutrophils for the early detection of anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection: a multicentric, prospective study

AIM

The aim was to determine the accuracy of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin and neutrophils in the early detection (fourth postoperative day) of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a multicentre, prospective study that included a consecutive series of patients who underwent colorectal resection with anastomosis without ostomy (September 2015 to December 2017). CRP, procalcitonin and neutrophil values on the fourth postoperative day after colorectal resection along with the postoperative outcome (60-day AL, morbidity and mortality) were prospectively included in an online, anonymous database.

RESULTS

The analysis ultimately included 2501 cases. The overall morbidity and mortality was 30.1% and 1.6%, respectively, and the AL rate was 8.6%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values (95% CI) for detecting AL were 0.84 (0.81-0.87), 0.75 (0.72-0.79) and 0.70 (0.66-0.74) for CRP, procalcitonin and neutrophils, respectively. The best cut-off level for CRP was 119 mg/l, resulting in 70% sensitivity, 81% specificity and 97% negative predictive value. After laparoscopic resection, the accuracy for CRP and procalcitonin was increased, compared with open resection. The combination of two or three of these biomarkers did not significantly increase their accuracy.

CONCLUSION

On the fourth postoperative day, CRP was the most reliable marker for excluding AL. Its high negative predictive value, especially after laparoscopic resection, allows for safe hospital discharge on the fourth postoperative day. The routine use of procalcitonin or neutrophil counts does not seem to increase the diagnostic accuracy.

C reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) as predictor of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most severe complications in colorectal surgery. Currently, no predictive biomarkers of AL are available. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of C reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) as a predictor of AL in patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data on 1183 consecutive patients surgically treated for histologically proven colorectal cancer in the surgical units involved in the study were collected. Data included sex, age, BMI, ASA score, Charlson comorbidity index, localization, histology and stage of the disease, as well as blood tests including albumin and CRP at the 4th postoperative day. Differences in CAR between patients who developed AL and those who did not were analyzed, and the ability of CAR to predict AL was investigated with ROC analysis.

RESULTS

CAR was significantly higher in patients with AL in comparison to those without, at the 4th postoperative day. In ROC analysis CAR showed a good ability in detecting AL (AUC 0.825, 95%CI: 0,786-0,859), greater than those of CRP and albumin alone. CAR also showed a high ability in detecting postoperative deaths (AUC 0.750, 95% CI 0,956-0,987). These findings were confirmed in multivariate analysis including the most relevant risk factors for AL.

CONCLUSION

Our study evidenced that CAR, an inexpensive and widely available laboratory biomarker, adequately predicts AL and death in patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal cancer.

Predictive and Diagnostic Biomarkers of Anastomotic Leakage: A Precision Medicine Approach for Colorectal Cancer Patients

Development of an anastomotic leak (AL) following intestinal surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancers is a life-threatening complication. Failure of the anastomosis to heal correctly can lead to contamination of the abdomen with intestinal contents and the development of peritonitis. The additional care that these patients require is associated with longer hospitalisation stays and increased economic costs. Patients also have higher morbidity and mortality rates and poorer oncological prognosis. Unfortunately, current practices for AL diagnosis are non-specific, which may delay diagnosis and have a negative impact on patient outcome. To overcome these issues, research is continuing to identify AL diagnostic or predictive biomarkers. In this review, we highlight promising candidate biomarkers including ischaemic metabolites, inflammatory markers and bacteria. Although research has focused on the use of blood or peritoneal fluid samples, we describe the use of implantable medical devices that have been designed to measure biomarkers in peri-anastomotic tissue. Biomarkers that can be used in conjunction with clinical status, routine haematological and biochemical analysis and imaging have the potential to help to deliver a precision medicine package that could significantly enhance a patient's post-operative care and improve outcomes. Although no AL biomarker has yet been validated in large-scale clinical trials, there is confidence that personalised medicine, through biomarker analysis, could be realised for colorectal cancer intestinal resection and anastomosis patients in the years to come.

C-reactive protein after major abdominal surgery in daily practice

BACKGROUND

Infectious complications are frequently encountered after abdominal surgery. Early recognition, diagnosis, and subsequent timely treatment is the single most important denominator of postoperative outcome. This study prospectively addressed the predictive value of routine assessment of C-reactive protein levels as an early marker for infectious complications after major abdominal surgery.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing major abdominal surgery between November 2015 and November 2019 were prospectively enrolled. Routine C-reactive protein measurements were implemented on postoperative days 3, 4, and 5, and additional computed tomography examinations were performed on demand. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher infectious complications.

RESULTS

Of 350 patients, 71 (20.3%) experienced a major infectious complication, and median time to diagnosis was 7 days. C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in patients with major infectious complications compared to minor or no infectious complications. The optimal cut-off was calculated for each postoperative day, being 175 mg/L on day 3, 130 mg/L on day 4, and 144 mg/L on day 5, and corresponding sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values were over 80%, 65%, 40%, and 92% respectively. Alternative safe discharge cut-offs were calculated at 105 mg/L, 71 mg/L and 63 mg/L on days 3, 4, and 5, respectively, each having a negative predictive value of over 97%.

CONCLUSION

The C-reactive protein cut-offs provided in this study can be used as a discharge criterion or to select patients that might require an invasive intervention due to infectious complications. These diagnostic criteria can easily be implemented in daily surgical practice.

THE ROLE OF MARKERS OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN THE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD. REVIEW

Despite all the achievements of modern surgery, the number of postoperative infectious complications in the world remains high. Their occurrence leads to a longer period of patients’ hospitalization, requires the use of additional medical and diagnostic measures, which ultimately leads to higher treatment costs and significant financial losses in the health care system. Therefore, it is important to identify postoperative complications at an early stage, even before the development of pronounced clinical symptoms, and to predict their possible development in a certain category of patients. For these purposes, scientists try to use various laboratory markers. In this paper, we analyzed both well-known indicators of the inflammatory response, such as: C-reactive protein, albumin, their ratio, procalcitonin and interleukin-6, and relatively new parameters that research teams are trying to apply for these purposes: neutrophil granularity intensity and neutrophil reactivity intensity, pancreatic stone protein and pancreatitis-associated protein. We tried to collect the most complete information available at the moment, evaluate the opinions of researchers, identify contradictions in their works and try to explain their cause. As a result, it turned out that even the markers of inflammation known for many years are not absolutely specific for postoperative infectious complications. We concluded that most of the laboratory parameters described in this article can be used to some extent in the early diagnosis of postoperative infectious complications, but if we want to obtain more complete information in this area of knowledge, it is necessary to conduct new largescale studies.

Predictive value of 4th post-operative-day CRP in the early detection of complications after laparoscopic bowel resection for endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

Post-operative CRP on postoperative day 4 (POD) is used for the early detection of complications after colorectal surgery for cancer, but there is no evidence yet that justifies the use of this marker for bowel resection in case of endometriosis.

STUDY DESIGN

We retrospectively included 66 consecutive patients who underwent bowel resection for endometriosis (stage 4) in Lille university hospital, France, from August 1, 2015 until January 31, 2017. The composite endpoint of our study included anastomotic leakages, infectious or thrombo-embolic complications, hematomas, bowel stenosis, rectorrhagia, voiding dysfunction, and rehospitalization for related symptoms.

RESULTS

CRP on POD 4 presents a satisfying area under the curve of 0.85, for the composite endpoint. A CRP cut off value of 56 mg/L yielded a sensitivity of 0.61 (IC95%: 0.36 to 0.83) and a specificity of 0.98 (IC95%: 0.89 to 1). The negative and positive predictive values were 0.87 and 0.92.

CONCLUSION

The negative predictive value of the CRP on POD 4 after bowel resection for endometriosis is a useful early indicator for detecting a complication. Therefore, this biomarker might be safely used as an additional criterion for a safe discharge from hospital after colorectal resection in endometriosis.

Biological impact of an enhanced recovery after surgery programme in liver surgery

BACKGROUND

The clinical and economic impacts of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes have been demonstrated extensively. Whether ERAS protocols also have a biological effect remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the biological impact of an ERAS programme in patients undergoing liver surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing liver surgery (2010-2018) was undertaken. Patients operated before and after ERAS implementation in 2013 were compared. Surrogate markers of surgical stress were monitored: white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, albumin concentration, and haematocrit. Their perioperative fluctuations were defined as Δvalues, calculated on postoperative day (POD) 0 for Δalbumin and Δhaematocrit and POD 2 for ΔWBC and ΔCRP.

RESULTS

A total of 541 patients were included, with 223 and 318 patients in non-ERAS and ERAS groups respectively. Groups were comparable, except for higher rates of laparoscopy (24.8 versus 11.2 per cent; P < 0.001) and major resection (47.5 versus 38.1 per cent; P = 0.035) in the ERAS group. Patients in the ERAS group showed attenuated ΔWBC (2.00 versus 2.75 g/l; P = 0.013), ΔCRP (60 versus 101 mg/l; P <0.001) and Δalbumin (12 versus 16 g/l; P < 0.001) compared with those in the no-ERAS group. Subgroup analysis of open resection showed similar results. Multivariable analysis identified ERAS as the only independent factor associated with high ΔWBC (odds ratio (OR) 0.65, 95 per cent c.i. 0.43 to 0.98; P = 0.038), ΔCRP (OR 0.41, 0.23 to 0.73; P = 0.003) and Δalbumin (OR 0.40, 95 per cent c.i. 0.22 to 0.72; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Compared with conventional management, implementation of ERAS was associated with an attenuated stress response in patients undergoing liver surgery.

[The role of neutrophil CD64 index in the diagnosis of infectious complications after colorectal resection]

OBJECTIVE

To determine diagnostic value of neutrophil CD64 index (iCD64n) in the diagnosis of postoperative infectious complications after colorectal resections.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seventy-three patients underwent colorectal surgery for the period from January to December 2018. These patients were included into a single-center study. Peripheral blood samples were taken on 3 and 6 postoperative days (POD) to check iCD64n level. We analyzed incidence of postoperative infectious complications, sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of postoperative iCD64n level on the 3^rd and 6^th POD.

RESULTS

Postoperative infectious complications developed in 10 (13.7%) patients. Median iCD64n was significantly higher (p=0.0017 for POD 3; p=0.018 for POD 6) in patients with infectious complications (1.6 on POD 3; 1.3 on POD 6) compared to those without complications (1.1 on POD 3; 0.9 on POD 6). Area under curve (AUC) on the 3^rd POD was 0.8 with the cut-off value of 1.4, Se - 70%, Sp - 93.7% (p=0.002). On the 6^th POD, AUC was 0.91 with cut-off value of 1.23, Se - 80%, Sp - 93.7% (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Neutrophil CD64 index is a valuable predictor for the diagnosis of postoperative infectious complications after colorectal resections. It is a useful tool to ensure a safe early discharge.

The study is registered on the website «clinictrials.gov» (registration number NCT03559335).

C-reactive protein is superior to white blood cell count for early detection of complications after pancreatoduodenectomy: a retrospective multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

Early detection of major complications after pancreatoduodenectomy could improve patient management and decrease the "failure-to-rescue" rate. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to compare the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC) in the early detection of complications after pancreatoduodenectomy.

METHODS

We assessed pancreatoduodenectomies between January 2012 and December 2017. Major complications were defined as grade III or higher according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) was a secondary endpoint. ROC-curve and logistic regression analysis were performed for CRP and WBC. Results were validated in an external cohort.

RESULTS

In the development cohort (n = 285), 103 (36.1%) patients experienced a major complication. CRP was superior to WBC in detecting major complications on postoperative day (POD) 3 (AUC:0.74 vs. 0.54, P < 0.001) and POD 5 (AUC:0.77 vs. 0.68, P = 0.031), however not on POD 7 (AUC:0.77 vs. 0.76, P = 0.773). These results were confirmed in multivariable analysis and in the validation cohort (n = 202). CRP was also superior to WBC in detecting POPF on POD 3 (AUC: 0.78 vs. 0.54, P < 0.001) and POD 5 (AUC: 0.83 vs. 0.71, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

CRP appears to be superior to WBC in the early detection of major complications and POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Predictive Ability of C-Reactive Protein in Detecting Short-Term Complications After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a potentially curative treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of postoperative inflammatory biomarkers in assessing complications after CRS and HIPEC.

Methods

A prospective database of 181 patients, who underwent CRS-HIPEC between March 2014 through April 2018 in the Erasmus MC, was retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative complications were defined according to the serious adverse event (SAE) grading system. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count were compared between patients with SAE grade < 3 and SAE grade ≥ 3. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated for CRP and WBC against SAE ≥ 3 and various intra-abdominal complications.

Results

SAE ≥ 3 postoperative complications occurred in 50 patients. From the second until the fifth postoperative day (POD), CRP levels were significantly higher (p = 0.023, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p = 0.002, respectively) in these patients. CRP concentrations above 166 mg/L on POD3 (AUC 0.75) and 116 mg/L on POD4 (AUC 0.70) were associated with the highest risk of an SAE ≥ 3. Postoperative WBC levels were not significantly different between patients with SAE < 3 and SAE ≥ 3 complications.

Conclusion

Data from our hospital suggest that CRP levels that continue to rise after POD2 or that are ≥ 166 mg/L at POD3 or ≥ 116 mg/L at POD4, indicate a considerable risk for developing high-grade SAEs. The cut-off values we found can potentially be used as a threshold for additional diagnostic interventions, after they have been validated in external data.

Meta-analysis of the Diagnostic Accuracy of C-Reactive Protein for Infectious Complications in Laparoscopic Versus Open Colorectal Surgery

INTRODUCTION

C-reactive protein may predict anastomotic complications after colorectal surgery, but its predictive ability may differ between laparoscopic and open resection due to differences in stress response. Therefore, the objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the diagnostic characteristics of C-reactive protein to detect anastomotic leaks and infectious complications after laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA. Studies were included if they reported on the diagnostic characteristics of postoperative day 3-5 values of serum C-reactive protein to diagnose anastomotic leak or infectious complications specifically in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery. The main outcome was a composite of anastomotic leak and infectious complications. A random-effects model was used to perform a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies were included (9 for laparoscopic surgery, 8 for open surgery). The pooled incidence of the composite outcome was 14.8% (95% CI 10.2-19.3) in laparoscopic studies and 21.0% (95% CI 11.9-30.0) for open. The pooled diagnostic accuracy characteristics were similar for open and laparoscopic studies. However, the C-reactive protein threshold cutoffs were lower in laparoscopic studies for postoperative days 3 and 4, but similar on day 5.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic characteristics of C-reactive protein in the early postoperative period to detect infectious complications and leaks are similar after laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery. However, thresholds are lower for laparoscopic surgery, suggesting that the interpretation of serum CRP values needs to be tailored based on operative approach.

How can biomarkers be used to differentiate between infection and non-infectious causes of inflammation?

Diagnosis of sepsis is based on recognition of systemic inflammation and organ failure in the context of an inciting infection. Since none of the diagnostic criteria are specific to sepsis, it is easy to confound sepsis with noninfectious causes of systemic inflammation, including pancreatitis, cardiac ischemia, bowel perforation, vasculitis, and pulmonary embolism amongst others. Two widely used biomarkers, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, have proven promising in sepsis diagnosis. Each has found varying success in the clinical context, with some centers relying heavily on these markers and others eschewing their use almost entirely. In this chapter, we present the evidence for their use in the diagnosis of sepsis and management of antibiotic therapy in the intensive care unit context.

The impact of postoperative inflammation on recurrence in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Systemic inflammatory response is strongly linked to among cancer development, progression and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of postoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on the prognoses of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

A total of 467 patients with stage I-III CRC who underwent curative surgery were retrospectively analyzed. To precisely evaluate the effect of postoperative inflammatory status on prognosis in CRC patients, we excluded patients with postoperative complication or elevated preoperative CRP level (CRP > 1.0 mg/dL). Patients were divided into two groups based on their highest post-resection CRP levels (max CRP): the low CRP group (LCG; < 9.0 mg/dL, n = 385) and high CRP group (HCG; ≥ 9.0 mg/dL, n = 82). Furthermore, the effect of inflammation on malignant potential of CRC cells was evaluated using in vitro peritoneal dissemination model.

RESULTS

HCG patients showed significantly worse recurrence-free survival (RFS) than LCG patients (p = 0.012). Multivariate analysis revealed that a higher max CRP was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (HR: 2.07, 95% CI 1.04-3.96, p = 0.038). Concerning the risk factors for high max CRP level, multivariate analysis revealed that older age (p < 0.001), male sex (p < 0.001), higher BMI (p = 0.005), right-sided colorectal cancer (p = 0.008), and longer operative time (p = 0.007) were independent risk factors. A higher max CRP was also significantly associated with peritoneal recurrence (p < 0.001). Additionally, recombinant cytokines enhanced the adhesive ability of CRC cells to mesothelial cell in vitro (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative inflammation may be a possible mechanism portending the poor prognosis of CRC patients.

Bedside-measurement of serum cholinesterase activity predicts patient morbidity and length of the intensive care unit stay following major traumatic injury

Major traumatic injury (MTI), a life-threatening condition requiring prompt medical intervention, is associated with an extensive inflammatory response often resulting in multiple organ dysfunction. Early stratification of trauma severity and the corresponding inflammation may help optimize resources at the intensive care unit (ICU). The cholinergic system counters inflammation by quickly modulating the immune response. Serum cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase, BChE) is an enzyme that hydrolyses acetylcholine. We tested whether a change in the BChE activity correlates with the morbidity and the length of ICU stay. Blood samples from 10 healthy volunteers and 44 patients with MTI were gathered at hospital admission, followed by measurements 12, 24 and 48 hours later. Point-of-care approach was used to determine the BChE activity. Disease severity was assessed by clinical scoring performed within 24 hours following hospital admission. BChE activity, measured at hospital admission, showed a significant and sustained reduction and correlated with disease severity scores obtained 24 hours following admission. BChE activity, obtained at hospital admission, correlated with the length of ICU stay. Bedside measurement of BChE activity, as a complementary addition to established procedures, might prove useful in the primary assessment of the disease severity and might therefore optimize therapy in the ICU.

Should They Stay or Should They Go? The Utility of C-Reactive Protein in Predicting Readmission and Anastomotic Leak After Colorectal Resection

BACKGROUND

Hospital readmission and anastomotic leak following colorectal resection have a negative impact on patients, surgeons, and the health care system. Novel markers of patients unlikely to experience these complications are of value in avoiding readmission.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the predictive value of C-reactive protein for readmission and anastomotic leak within 30 days following colorectal resection.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective review of a prospectively compiled single-institution database.

PATIENTS

From January 1, 2013, to July 20, 2017, consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal resection with anastomosis without the presence of proximal intestinal stoma, who had C-reactive protein measured on postoperative day 3, were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measured was the predictive value of C-reactive protein measured on postoperative day 3 for readmission or anastomotic leak within 30 days after colorectal resection.

RESULTS

Of the 752 patients examined, 73 (10%) were readmitted within 30 days of surgery and 17 (2%) had an anastomotic leak. Mean C-reactive protein in patients who neither had an anastomotic leak nor were readmitted (127 ± 77 mg/L) was lower than for patients who were readmitted (157 ± 96 mg/L, p = 0.002) and lower than for patients who had an anastomotic leak (228 ± 123 mg/L, p = 0.0000002). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein for readmission was 0.59, with a cutoff value of 145 mg/L, generating a 93% negative predictive value. The area under the curve for the diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein for anastomotic leak was 0.76, with a cutoff value of 147 mg/L generating a 99% negative predictive value.

LIMITATIONS

This study was limited by its retrospective design and because all patients were treated at a single center.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a C-reactive protein below 145 mg/L on postoperative day 3 after colorectal resection have a low likelihood of readmission within 30 days, and a very low likelihood of anastomotic leak. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A761.

C-Reactive Protein Values After Colorectal Resection: Can We Discharge a Patient With a C-Reactive Protein Value >100? A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

C-reactive protein is a useful negative predictive test for the development of anastomotic leakage following colorectal surgery. Evolution of procedures (laparoscopy, enhanced recovery program, early discharge, complex redo surgery) may influence C-reactive protein values; however, this is poorly studied to date.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate C-reactive protein as an indicator of postoperative complication and as a predictor for discharge.

DESIGN

This is retrospective study of a consecutive monocentric cohort.

SETTINGS

All patients undergoing a colorectal resection with anastomosis (2014-2015) were included.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

C-reactive protein, leukocytosis, type of resection, and postoperative course were the primary outcomes measured.

RESULTS

A total of 522 patients were included. The majority had either a colorectal (n = 159, 31%) or coloanal anastomosis (n = 150, 29%). Overall morbidity was 29.3%. C-reactive protein was significantly higher among patient having intra-abdominal complications at an early stage (day 1-2) (164.6 vs 136.2; p = 0.0028) and late stage (day 3-4) (209.4 vs 132.1; p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, early C-reactive protein was associated with BMI (coefficient, 4.9; 95% CI, 3.2-6.5; p < 0.0001) and open surgical procedures (coefficient, 43.1; 95% CI, 27-59.1; p < 0.0001), while late C-reactive protein value was influenced by BMI (coefficient, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.5-7.0; p = 0.0024) and associated extracolonic procedures (coefficient, 34.2; 95% CI, 2.7-65.6; p = 0.033). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive values, and positive predictive values for intra-abdominal complication were 85.9%, 33.6%, 89.3%, and 27.1% for an early C-reactive protein <100 mg/L and 72.7%, 75.4%, 89.4%, and 49.2% for a late C-reactive protein <100 mg/L. Four hundred seven patients with an uneventful postoperative course were discharged at day 8 ± 6.4 with a mean discharge C-reactive protein of 83.5 ± 67.4. Thirty-eight patients (9.3%) were readmitted and had a significantly higher discharge C-reactive protein (138.6 ± 94.1 vs 77.8 ± 61.2, p = 0.0004). Readmission rate was 16.5% for patients with a discharge C-reactive protein >100 mg/L vs 6% with C-reactive protein <100 mg/L (p = 0.0008). For patients included in an enhanced recovery program (discharge at day 4 ± 2.4), the threshold should be higher because discharge is around day 3 or 4. With a C-reactive protein <140, readmission rate was 2% vs 19%, (p = 0.056).

LIMITATIONS

This study includes retrospective data.

CONCLUSION

C-reactive protein <100 mg/L is associated with a lower risk of intra-abdominal complication and readmission rates. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A749.

C-reactive protein in predicting major postoperative complications are there differences in open and minimally invasive colorectal surgery? Substudy from a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

In search of improvement of patient assessment in the postoperative phase, C-reactive protein (CRP) is increasingly being studied as an early marker for postoperative complications following major abdominal surgery. Several studies reported an attenuated immune response in minimally invasive surgery, which might affect interpretation of postoperative CRP levels. The aim of the present study was to compare the value of CRP as a predictor for major postoperative complications in patients undergoing open versus laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

METHODS

A subgroup analysis from a randomized clinical trial (LAFA-trial) was performed, including all patients with non-metastasized colorectal cancer. In the LAFA trial, patients were randomized to open or laparoscopic segmental colectomy. In a subgroup of 79 patients of the LAFA trial, postoperative assessment of CRP levels was conducted routinely preoperatively and 1, 2, 24 and 72 h after surgery.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients were randomized to the open group and 42 patients to the laparoscopic group. Major complications occurred in 19% of laparoscopic procedures and 13.5% of open procedures (p = 0.776). CRP levels rise following surgical procedures. In uncomplicated cases, the rise in CRP levels was significantly lower at 24 and 72 h following laparoscopic resection in comparison to open resection. No differences in CRP levels were observed when comparing open and laparoscopic resection in patients with major complications.

CONCLUSION

In patients with an uncomplicated postoperative course, CRP levels were lower following minimally invasive resection, possibly due to decreased operative trauma. No differences in CRP were observed stratified for surgical technique in patients with major complications. These results suggest that CRP may be applied as a marker for major postoperative complications in both open and minimally invasive colorectal surgery. Future research should aim to assess the role of standardized postoperative CRP measurements.

Inflammatory markers as early predictors of infection after colorectal surgery: the same cut-off values in laparoscopy and laparotomy?

PURPOSE

C-reactive protein and procalcitonin are reliable early predictors of infection after colorectal surgery. However, the inflammatory response is lower after laparoscopy as compared to open surgery. This study analyzed whether a different cutoff value of inflammatory markers should be chosen according to the surgical approach.

METHODS

A prospective, observational study included consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in three academic centers. All infections until postoperative day (POD) 30 were recorded. The inflammatory markers were analyzed daily until POD 4. Areas under the ROC curve and diagnostic values were calculated in order to assess their accuracy as a predictor of intra-abdominal infection.

RESULTS

Five-hundred-one patients were included. The incidence of intra-abdominal infection was 11.8%. The median levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were lower in the laparoscopy group at each postoperative day (p < 0.0001). In patients without intra-abdominal infection, they were also lower in the laparoscopy group (p = 0.0036) but were not different in patients presenting with intra-abdominal infections (p = 0.3243). In the laparoscopy group, CRP at POD 4 was the most accurate predictor of overall and intra-abdominal infection (AUC = 0.775). With a cutoff of 100 mg/L, it yielded 95.7% negative predictive value, 75% sensitivity, and 70.3% specificity for the detection of intra-abdominal infection.

CONCLUSION

The impact of infection on inflammatory markers is more important than that of the surgical approach. Defining a specific cutoff value for early discharge according to the surgical approach is not justified. A patient with CRP values lower than 100 mg/L on POD 4 can be safely discharged.

Perioperative Increase in Neutrophil CD64 Expression is an Indicator for Intra-abdominal Infection after Colorectal Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

Colorectal surgery is associated with a high incidence of postoperative infections. Early clinical signs are difficult to distinguish from the systemic inflammatory response related to surgical trauma. Timely diagnosis may significantly improve the outcome. The objective of this study was to compare a new biomarker index CD64 for neutrophils (iCD64n) with standard biomarkers, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) for the early detection of postoperative infection.

METHODS

The prospective study included 200 consecutive patients with elective colorectal cancer surgery. Postoperative values of biomarkers from the postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD5 were analysed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to predict infection. The Cox regression model and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to assess prognostic factors and survival.

RESULTS

The increase of index CD64n (iCD64n) after surgery, expressed as the ratio iCD64n after/before surgery was a better predictor of infection than its absolute value. The best 30-day predictors of all infections were CRP on POD4 (AUC 0.72, 99% CI 0.61-0.83) and NLR on POD5 (AUC 0.69, 99% CI 0.57-0.80). The best 15-day predictors of organ/space surgical site infection (SSI) were the ratio iCD64n on POD1 (AUC 0.72, 99% CI 0.58-0.86), POD3 (AUC 0.73, 99% CI 0.59-0.87) and CRP on POD3 (AUC 0.72, 99% CI 0.57-0.86), POD4 (AUC 0.79, 99% CI 0.64-0.93). In a multivariate analysis independent risk factors for infections were duration of surgery and perioperative transfusion while the infection itself was identified as a risk factor for a worse long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio iCD64n on POD1 is the best early predictor of intra-abdominal infection after colorectal cancer surgery. CRP predicts the infection with the same predictive value on POD3.

Clinical evaluation of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin for the early detection of postoperative complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Among the most common early complications after bariatric surgery are anastomosis leak and bleeding. In order to react quickly and perform accurate treatment before the clinical signs appear, early predictors should be found. In the study C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were investigated. Characterized by a relatively short half-life, they can predict surgical complications.

AIM

To develop and implement certain standards for early detection of complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study involved 319 adults who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as a surgical intervention for morbid obesity at the Department of General Surgery of Ceynowa Hospital in Wejherowo. Every patient had CRP and PCT levels measured before the surgery and on the 1^st and 2^nd postoperative day (POD).

RESULTS

Early postoperative complications occurred in 19 (5.96%) patients. Septic and non-septic complications occurred in 3 and 16 patients respectively. Among the patients with septic postoperative complications CRP level increased significantly on the 2^nd POD compared to the remainder (p = 0.0221). Among the patients with non-septic postoperative complications CRP level increased significantly on the 1^st and 2^nd POD compared to the remainder. Among the patients with septic and non-septic postoperative complications PCT level increased significantly on the 2^nd POD compared to the remainder.

CONCLUSIONS

The CRP and PCT level are supposed to be relevant diagnostic markers to predict non-septic and septic complications after LSG.

C-Reactive Protein Was an Early Predictor of Postoperative Infectious Complications After Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer

Objective

The study objective was to assess the predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP) for the early detection of postoperative infectious complications (PICs) after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Summary of Background Data

The incidence of PICs after pancreaticoduodenectomy still remains high and a clinically relevant problem, despite improvements in the surgical procedure.

Methods

We examined 110 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for primary pancreatic cancer between 2006 and 2014. The predictive value was assessed by estimating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Clinical and laboratory data, including CRP, were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of PICs of grade III or higher according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Results

PICs of grade III or higher occurred in 13 patients [11.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 6.45%–19.36%]. CRP level on postoperative day 3 (POD 3) was a good predictor of PICs (AUC, 0.815; 95% CI, 0.651–0.980), showing the highest accuracy among clinical and laboratory data. A cutoff value of 13.2 mg/dL yielded a sensitivity of 0.846 and a specificity of 0.794. On multivariate analysis, a POD 3 CRP level of 13.2 mg/dL or higher (odds ratio, 20.0; 95% CI, 4.07–97.9; P = 0.002) was a significant predictor of PICs after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Conclusions

CRP elevation above 13.2 mg/dL on POD 3 is a significant predictive factor for PICs and should prompt an intense clinical search and therapeutic approach for PICs.

Systematic review of the role of biomarkers in diagnosing anastomotic leakage following colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) following colorectal surgery can be difficult to diagnose owing to varying clinical presentations. This systematic review aimed to assess biomarkers as potential diagnostic tests for preclinical detection of AL.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. All published studies evaluating biomarkers, both systemic and peritoneal, in the context of AL following colorectal surgery were included. Studies were sought in three electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed and Embase) from January 1990 to June 2016.

RESULTS

Thirty-six studies evaluated 51 different biomarkers in the context of AL after colorectal surgery. Biomarkers included markers of ischaemia and inflammation, and microbiological markers, and were measured in both peritoneal drain fluid and the systemic circulation. The most commonly evaluated peritoneal drain fluid biomarkers were interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor. Significantly raised drain levels in the early postoperative period were reported to be associated with the development of AL. C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and leucocytes were the most commonly evaluated systemic biomarkers with significant negative and positive predictive values. Associated area under the curve values ranged from 0·508 to 0·960.

CONCLUSION

Peritoneal drain fluid and systemic biomarkers are poor predictors of AL after colorectal surgery. Combinations of these biomarkers showed improvement in predictive accuracy.

C-reactive protein as early predictor of complications after minimally invasive colorectal resection

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and enhanced recovery programs have been increasingly adopted in colorectal surgery. The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the usefulness of the C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration measured on postoperative day 3 (POD-3) as an early predictor of severe complications after minimally invasive colorectal resection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2014 to December 2015, 160 patients underwent resection of colorectal disease by MIS at the Division of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Verona Hospital Trust. Among these, CRP measurement was available on POD-3 in 143 patients.

RESULTS

Conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery was necessary in 18 patients (12.6%). The mean POD-3 CRP concentration was significantly higher in patients who did than did not require conversions (205.6 ± 89.6 mg/L versus 104.6 ± 85.8 mg/L, respectively; P < 0.001), even in the absence of postoperative complications, and these patients were therefore excluded from the subsequent analysis. No deaths occurred during the study period, but complications occurred in 39 patients (31.2%). Among these, 24 patients (61.5%) developed surgery-related complications. A POD-3 CRP concentration of 120 mg/L was highly reliable for excluding the occurrence of surgery-related and severe complications. The negative predictive values for excluding surgery-related and severe complications was 86.8% and 97.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of the POD-3 CRP concentration after colorectal MIS is clinically significant for excluding the occurrence of surgery-related and severe complications. This measurement is a largely available, inexpensive, and easy-to-use tool that allows early and safe discharge in the setting of colorectal MIS and enhanced recovery programs.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Inflammatory Markers As Early Predictors of Infection After Elective Colorectal Surgery: Results From the IMACORS Study

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal infections are frequent and life-threatening complications after colorectal surgery. An early detection could diminish their clinical impact and permit safe early discharge.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to find the most accurate marker for the detection of postoperative intra-abdominal infection and the appropriate moment to measure it.

METHODS

A prospective, observational study was conducted in 3 centers. Consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with anastomosis were included. C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were measured daily until the fourth postoperative day. Postoperative infections were recorded according to the definitions of the Centres for Diseases Control. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were analyzed and compared to assess the diagnostic accuracy of each marker.

RESULTS

Five-hundred and one patients were analyzed. The incidence of intra-abdominal infection was 11.8%, with 24.6% of patients presenting at least one infectious complication. Overall mortality was 1.2%. At the fourth postoperative day, C-reactive protein was more discriminating than procalcitonin for the detection of intra-abdominal infection (areas under the ROC curve: 0.775 vs 0.689, respectively, P = 0.03). Procalcitonin levels showed wide dispersion. For the detection of all infectious complications, C-reactive protein was also significantly more accurate than procalcitonin on the fourth postoperative day (areas under the ROC curve: 0.783 vs 0.671, P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

C-reactive protein is more accurate than procalcitonin for the detection of infectious complications and should be systematically measured at the fourth postoperative day. It is a useful tool to ensure a safe early discharge after elective colorectal surgery.

Post-Operative Infection Is an Independent Risk Factor for Worse Long-Term Survival after Colorectal Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer surgery is associated with a high incidence of post-operative infections, the outcome of which may be improved if diagnosed and treated early enough. We compared white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) as predictors of post-operative infections and analyzed their impact on long-term survival.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 186 patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Post-operative values of WBC, CRP, and PCT were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. We followed infections 30 d after the surgery. A five-year survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors by Cox regression model.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients (29.5%) developed post-operative infection, the most frequent of which was surgical site infection (SSI). C-reactive protein on post-operative day three and PCT on post-operative day two demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy for infection (area under the curve [AUC] 0.739 and 0.735). C-reactive protein on post-operative day three was an independent predictor of infection. Five-year survival was higher in the non-infected group (70.8%), compared with the infected group (52.1%). The worst survival (40.9%) was identified in patients with organ/space SSI. Post-operative infection and tumor stage III-IV were independent predictors of a worse five-year survival.

CONCLUSIONS

C-reactive protein on post-operative day three and PCT on post-operative day two may be early predictors of infection after colorectal cancer surgery. Post-operative infections in particular organ/space SSI have a negative impact on long-term survival.

Ability of Serum C-Reactive Protein Concentrations to Predict Complications After Laparoscopy-Assisted Gastrectomy: A Prospective Cohort Study

Inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC), are widely available in clinical practice. However, their predictive roles for infectious complications following laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) have not been investigated. Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of CRP concentrations and WBC counts for early detection of infectious complications following LAG and to construct a nomogram for clinical decision-making.The clinical data of consecutive patients who underwent LAG with curative intent between December 2013 and March 2015 were prospectively collected. Postoperative complications were recorded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The diagnostic value of CRP concentrations and WBC counts was evaluated by area under the curve of receiver-operating characteristic curves. Optimal cutoff values were determined by Youden index. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for complications, after which a nomogram was constructed.Twenty-nine of 278 patients (10.4%) who successfully underwent LAG developed major complications (grade ≥III). CRP concentration on postoperative day 3 (POD 3) and WBC count on POD 7 had the highest diagnostic accuracy for major complications with an area under the curve value of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.92] and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.56-0.79) respectively. An optimal cutoff value of 172.0 mg/L was identified for CRP, yielding a sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.60-0.92) and specificity 0.74 (95% CI, 0.68-0.80). Multivariate analysis identified POD3 CRP concentrations ≥172.0 mg/L, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥1, presence of preoperative comorbidity, and operation time ≥240 min as risk factors for major complications after LAG.The optimal cut-off value of CRP on POD3 to predict complications following LAG was 172.0 mg/L and a CRP-based nomogram may contribute to early detection of complications after LAG.

Baseline mortality-adjusted survival in colon cancer patients

BACKGROUND

This investigation assessed the baseline mortality-adjusted survival after colon cancer resection.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In total, 523 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon who underwent primary colon resection at Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland, between 1996 and 2008 were included.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 25 months for all patients and 39 months for those who survived until the end of the follow-up. The 5-year relative survival rate was 63.2 % (95 % CI 57.3-69.6 %), and the overall survival rate was 52 % (95 % CI 47.6-57.7 %). After curative resection of stage I-III colon cancer, 40 % of the observed deaths were cancer-related and 60 % reflected the baseline mortality. In stage I, the 5-year relative survival was 103.2 % (95 % CI 91.4-116.5 %) and was not different from a matched population (p = 0.820). In multivariate analysis, good general health and less advanced cancer stages were associated with better relative and overall survival rates. A more advanced age was associated with better relative survival, but worse overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis of relative survival of patients exclusively with colon cancer revealed that prognosis of patients suffering from stage I colon cancer does not differ significantly from that of the general population. In more advanced stages, a relevant fraction of deaths is not cancer-related. As the stage determines a patient's survival, early diagnosis is crucial for prognosis.

Sepsis following cancer surgery: the need for early recognition and standardised clinical care

Despite the implementation of multimodal bundles of care in hospitalised patients, post-operative sepsis in patients with cancer still accounts for a significant burden of illness and substantial healthcare costs. Patients undergoing surgery for cancer are at particular risk of sepsis due to underlying malignancy, being immunocompromised associated with cancer management and the complexity of surgical procedures performed. In this review, we evaluate the burden of illness and risks for sepsis following surgery for cancer. Current evidence supporting standardised strategies for sepsis management (including early recognition and resuscitation) is examined together with challenges in implementing quality improvement programs.

C-reactive protein on postoperative day 3 as a predictor of infectious complications following gastric cancer resection

BACKGROUND

Postoperative infectious complications (PICs) after gastric cancer resection remain a clinically relevant problem. Early detection of PICs, before critical illness develops, may be of considerable clinical benefit. The aims of this study were to investigate the predictive factors for PICs and to define the clinical parameters for detecting them early in patients with gastric cancer resection.

METHODS

Clinical data for 417 consecutive patients undergoing elective gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer between 2009 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified clinical factors predicting PICs of grade III or more according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients developed PICs of grade ≥ III [10.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.6-13.5%]. As a systemic inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP) on postoperative day (POD) 3 had superior diagnostic accuracy for PICs (AUC 0.802, 95% CI 0.735-0.870) with a calculated cutoff value of 17.7 mg/dl, yielding a sensitivity of 0.66 (95% CI 0.524-0.774) and a specificity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.821-0.850). Multivariate analysis identified CRP on POD 3 of 17.7 mg/dl or greater [odds ratio (OR) 8.094, 95% CI 3.568-19.342) as well as clinical stage ≥ II (OR 4.445, 95% CI 1.478-15.881) and operation time ≥ 250 min (OR 3.638, 95% CI 1.449-10.137) as significant predictive factors for PICs after gastrectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated CRP levels on POD 3 will help physicians predict the postoperative course and facilitate decision-making regarding prompt, comprehensive clinical searches and therapeutic approaches for PICs.

C-Reactive Protein as a Marker for Postoperative Complications. Are There Differences in Emergency and Elective Colorectal Surgery?

BACKGROUND

C-reactive protein levels are frequently raised in patients with major complications following elective colorectal surgery and used as a predictor for complications. The significance of raised C-reactive protein levels to predict outcome in emergency colorectal surgery is unclear, because preoperative C-reactive protein levels are often raised.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether serum C-reactive protein is an adequate predictive marker for major postoperative complications after colorectal surgery in an acute setting.

DESIGN

This is an observational cohort study of all patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

PATIENTS

Consecutive patients undergoing colorectal surgery with reconstruction via anastomosis and/or stoma from January 2009 to March 2014 were included.

SETTING

This study was conducted at VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative C-reactive protein levels, operative details, and postoperative complications were recorded to determine the differences in C-reactive protein as a marker for complications in emergency and elective colorectal surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 724 patients underwent colorectal resection, 559 elective cases and 165 emergency cases. A major complication was observed in 176 of 724 patients (24.3%). Major complications were observed more often in patients who underwent emergency surgery, 37% versus 20.9% after elective resections. C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher preoperatively in patients operated on in an acute care setting and on the first two postoperative days; from the third postoperative day, no statistically significant differences were found in C-reactive protein levels.

LIMITATIONS

This study was limited by its observational nature.

CONCLUSIONS

Although acute colorectal surgery is associated with higher C-reactive protein levels in the first 2 postoperative days, this study shows that postoperative C-reactive protein levels may be used as a predictor for complications in both acute and elective surgery from the third postoperative day onward. It is hypothesized that the stimulus for C-reactive protein production is removed during surgery, and, with a short-half-life of 19 hours, C-reactive protein levels drop to similar levels as seen in patients undergoing elective surgery.

Factors affecting serum albumin in the perioperative period of colorectal surgery: a retrospective study

Background

Albumin is considered a negative acute-phase protein because its concentration decreases during injury and sepsis. Hypoalbuminemia is a risk factor for mortality, postoperative complications, and prolonged hospital stay. The magnitude of the systemic inflammatory response during the perioperative period, as indicated by the acute-phase proteins—C-reactive protein (CRP) in particular—, may help identify the risk of postoperative infectious complication. The correlation between serum albumin and CRP with gastrointestinal cancer has been reported. However, it is unclear whether antecedent CRP could be utilized to predict future hypoalbuminemia in the perioperative period in colorectal surgery. The primary endpoint of this study was to reveal that antecedent CRP could be utilized to predict future hypoalbuminemia in the perioperative period of colorectal surgery.

Methods

Thirty-seven patients who underwent elective open colorectal surgery were included in this study. Correlations between preoperative CRP and serum albumin on postoperative day (POD) 3, between preoperative CRP and serum albumin on POD 7 and between CRP on POD 3 and serum albumin on POD 7 were examined. Relationships between preoperative CRP and hypoalbuminemia on POD 3, between preoperative CRP and hypoalbuminemia on POD 7 and between CRP on POD 3 and hypoalbuminemia on POD 7 were examined by receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results

Three-quarters of patients were older than 65 years of age. Significant correlations were observed between preoperative CRP and serum albumin on POD 3 (p = 0.023), between preoperative CRP and serum albumin on POD 7 (p = 0.023) and between CRP on POD 3 and serum albumin on POD 7 (p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CRP on POD 3 to development of hypoalbuminemia on POD 7 was 0.833 (95 % CI 0.679–0.987) with an optimal threshold of 12.43 mg/dL, sensitivity 75 % and specificity 80 %.

Conclusions

The present study revealed that antecedent CRP was associated with future serum albumin. Additionally, CRP on POD 3 could be useful in predicting the development of hypoalbuminemia on POD 7. This result suggests that CRP on POD 3 may be a valuable indicator for early nutritional intervention.

Clinical Significance of C-reactive Protein Level After Laparoscopic Gastrectomy: From a Viewpoint of Intra-Abdominal Complications

In this retrospective study, we investigated whether postoperative intra-abdominal infectious complications (IIC) after laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) is predictable in an early postoperative period using C-reactive protein (CRP). Intra-abdominal infectious complication after gastrectomy is caused mainly by anastomotic leakage or pancreatic injury associated with peripancreatic lymph node (LN) dissection, which may sometimes result in serious outcomes. C-reactive protein is widely used to evaluate the inflammatory status. However, the relationship between the CRP level and postoperative IIC following LG remains unclear. White blood cell count (WBC), CRP counts, and clinical data were available for 229 consecutive patients undergoing LG with lymphadenectomy. We compared CRP and WBC between patients with (Group A) and without (Group B) IIC to check whether these could be used to predict IIC in an early postoperative period. Using the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the diagnostic accuracy was evaluated. On postoperative day 1 (POD1), increased CRP levels were associated with IIC (Group A: 9.6 mg/dL, Group B: 6.0 mg/dL; P = 0.000048), while WBC did not differ significantly. On POD3, the difference in CRP between both groups increased (A: 20.2 mg/dL, B: 10.7 mg/dL; P = 1.6 × 10−8). The optimal cutoff value was 14.9 mg/dL on POD3 (sensitivity: 0.79, specificity: 0.78), and the area under the ROC curve was 0.86. Measurements of CRP on POD1 and 3 are helpful for detecting possible IIC after LG, compared with WBC. It is necessary to pay attention to CRP levels for earlier detection of IIC.

The PRECious trial PREdiction of Complications, a step-up approach, CRP first followed by CT-scan imaging to ensure quality control after major abdominal surgery: study protocol for a stepped-wedge trial

Background

After major abdominal surgery (MAS), 20 % of patients endure major complications, which require invasive treatment and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A quality control algorithm after major abdominal surgery aimed at early identification of patients at risk of developing major complications can decrease associated morbidity and mortality. Literature studies show promising results for C-reactive protein (CRP) as an early marker for postoperative complications, however clinical significance has yet to be determined.

Methods

A multicenter, stepped wedge, prospective clinical trial including all adult patients planned to undergo elective MAS. The first period consists of standard postoperative monitoring, which entails on demand additional examinations. This is followed by a period with implementation of postoperative control according to the PRECious protocol, which implicates standardized measurement of CRP levels. If CRP levels exceed 140 mg/L on postoperative day 3,4 or 5, an enhanced CT-scan is performed.

Primary outcome in this study is a combined primary outcome, entailing all morbidity and mortality due to postoperative complications. Complications are graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Secondary outcomes are hospital length of stay, patients reported outcome measures (PROMs) and cost-effectiveness. Data will be collected during admission, three months and one year postoperatively. Approval by the medical ethics committee of the VU University Medical Center was obtained (ID 2015.114).

Discussion

the PRECious trial is a stepped-wedge, multicenter, open label, prospective clinical trial to determine the effect of a standardized postoperative quality control algorithm on postoperative morbidity and mortality, and cost-effectiveness.

Trial registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02102217. Registered 5 February 2015.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0903-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Predictive Value of C-Reactive Protein for Major Complications after Major Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Pooled-Analysis

Background

Early diagnosis and treatment of complications after major abdominal surgery can decrease associated morbidity and mortality. Postoperative CRP levels have shown a strong correlation with complications. Aim of this systematic review and pooled-analysis was to assess postoperative values of CRP as a marker for major complications and construct a prediction model.

Study design

A systematic review was performed for CRP levels as a predictor for complications after major abdominal surgery (MAS). Raw data was obtained from seven studies, including 1427 patients. A logit regression model assessed the probability of major complications as a function of CRP levels on the third postoperative day. Two practical cut-offs are proposed: an optimal cut-off for safe discharge in a fast track protocol and another for early identification of patients with increased risk for major complications.

Results

A prediction model was calculated for major complications as a function of CRP levels on the third postoperative day. Based on the model several cut-offs for CRP are proposed. For instance, a two cut-off system may be applied, consisting of a safe discharge criterion with CRP levels below 75 mg/L, with a negative predictive value of 97.2%. A second cut-off is set at 215 mg/L (probability 20%) and serves as a predictor of complications, indicating additional CT-scan imaging.

Conclusions

The present study provides insight in the interpretation of CRP levels after major abdominal surgery, proposing a prediction model for major complications as a function of CRP on postoperative day 3. Cut-offs for CRP may be implemented for safe early-discharge in a fast-track protocol and, secondly as a threshold for additional examinations, such as CT-scan imaging, even in absence of clinical signs, to confirm or exclude major complications. The prediction model allows for setting a cut-off at the discretion of individual surgeons or surgical departments.

Routine clinical markers of the magnitude of the systemic inflammatory response after elective operation: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Operative injury to the body from all procedures causes a stereotypical cascade of neuroendocrine, cytokine, myeloid, and acute phase responses. This response has been examined commonly by the use of cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), white cell count, and C-reactive protein (CRP). We aimed to determine which markers of the systemic inflammatory response were useful in determining the magnitude of injury after elective operations.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed using surgery, endocrine response, systemic inflammatory response, cortisol, IL-6, white cell count, and CRP. For each analyte the studies were grouped according to whether the operative injury was considered to be minor, moderate, or major and then by the operative procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 164 studies were included involving 14,362 patients. The IL-6 and CRP responses clearly were associated with the magnitude of operative injury and the invasiveness of the operative procedure. For example, the peak CRP response increased from 52 mg/L with cholecystectomy to 123 mg/L with colorectal cancer resection, 145 mg/L with hip replacement, 163 mg/L after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and 189 mg/L after open cardiac surgery. There also appeared to be a difference between minimally invasive/laparoscopic and open procedures such as cholecystectomy (27 vs 80 mg/L), colorectal cancer resection (97 vs 133 mg/L), and aortic aneurysm repair (132 vs 180 mg/L).

CONCLUSION

Peak IL-6 and CRP concentrations consistently were associated with the magnitude of operative injury and operative procedure. These markers may be useful in the objective assessment of which components of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery are likely to improve patient outcome and to assess the possible impact of operative injury on immune function.

Searching for predictors of surgical complications in critically ill surgery patients in the intensive care unit: a review

We reviewed the use of the levels of C-reactive protein, lactate and procalcitonin and/or the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score to determine their diagnostic accuracy for predicting surgical complications in critically ill general post-surgery patients. Included were all studies published in PubMed from inception to July 2013 that met the following inclusion criteria: evaluation of the above parameters, describing their diagnostic accuracy and the risk stratification for surgical complications in surgical patients admitted to an intensive care unit. No difference in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores was seen between patients with or without complications. The D-lactate levels were significantly higher in those who developed colonic ischemic complications after a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. After gastro-intestinal surgery, contradictory data were reported, with both positive and negative use of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the diagnosis of septic complications. However, in trauma patients, the C-reactive protein levels may help to discriminate between those with and without infectious causes. We conclude that the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, lactate concentration and C-reactive protein level have no significant predictive value for early postoperative complications in critically ill post-surgery patients. However, procalcitonin seems to be a useful parameter for diagnosing complications in specific patient populations after surgery and/or after trauma.