Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as early markers of anastomotic leak after laparoscopic colorectal surgery within an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program

Procalcitonin as an Early Marker of Colorectal Anastomotic Leakage in Postoperative Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The timely identification of colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL) is still a significant challenge, and identifying reliable markers is essential to minimize patient morbidity and mortality. While procalcitonin (PCT) has shown promise as a biomarker for CAL, its effectiveness must be specifically evaluated in colorectal cancer patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to assess the mean differences in PCT levels between individuals with and without CAL who underwent colorectal surgery for colorectal cancer. Methodology A comprehensive search of the "PubMed," "Scopus," and "Web of Science" databases was carried out, covering studies published through April 2024. The objective was to identify studies examining PCT levels in colorectal cancer patients who underwent colorectal surgery, with a particular focus on the occurrence of CAL. Data on the mean of PCT levels in CAL and non-CAL patients were extracted from the selected studies. The mean differences in PCT levels were subsequently analyzed for each postoperative day (POD). Results Seventeen articles were selected for inclusion in this systematic review. The statistical analysis included five eligible articles that assessed PCT levels in groups exclusively involving patients with colorectal cancer. The findings showed no significant increase in PCT levels in CAL patients compared to non-CAL patients on any POD when a leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was performed to validate the results. Conclusions To date, PCT levels should not be regarded as early indicators of CAL after colorectal surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. Additional research is necessary to evaluate if PCT could be a dependable marker for CAL in this particular setting.

Diagnostic Modalities for Early Detection of Anastomotic Leak After Colorectal Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Anastomotic leak (AL) remains a severe complication following colorectal surgery, leading to increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in cases of delayed diagnosis. Existing diagnostic methods, including computed tomography (CT) scans, contrast enemas, endoscopic examinations, and reoperations can confirm AL but lack strong predictive value. Early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes, yet a definitive and reliable predictive test, or "gold standard," is still lacking.

METHODS

A comprehensive PubMed review was focused on CT imaging, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) to assess their predictive utility in detecting AL after colorectal resection. Three independent reviewers evaluated eligibility, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the studies.

RESULTS

Summarized in detailed tables, our analysis revealed the effectiveness of both CRP and PCT in the early detection of AL during the postoperative period. CT imaging, capable of identifying fluid collection, pneumoperitoneum, extraluminal contrast extravasation, abscess formation, and other early signs of leak, also proved valuable.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the variability in findings and statistics across these modalities, our study suggests a personalized, multimodal approach to predicting AL. Integrating CRP and PCT assessments with the diagnostic capabilities of CT imaging provides a nuanced, patient-specific strategy that significantly enhances early detection and management. By tailoring interventions based on individual clinical characteristics, surgeons can optimize patient outcomes, reduce morbidity, and mitigate the consequences associated with AL after colorectal surgery. This approach emphasizes the importance of personalized medicine in surgical care, paving the way for improved patient health outcomes.

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as early markers of anastomotic leakage in intestinal resections for advanced ovarian cancer (EDMOCS)

INTRODUCTION

Serum levels of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been used to predict anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery, but information is scarce in advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) surgery with bowel resection. This study aimed to assess the predictive value of procalcitonin and CRP in detecting anastomotic leakage after AOC surgery with bowel resection. The study also aimed to determine the optimal postoperative reference values and the best day for evaluating these markers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective, observational and multicentric trial included 92 patients with AOC undergoing debulking surgery with bowel resection between 2017 and 2020 in 10 reference hospitals in Spain. Procalcitonin and CRP levels were measured at baseline and on postoperative days 1-6. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of procalcitonin and CRP at each postoperative day. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated.

RESULTS

Anastomotic leakage was detected in six patients (6.5%). Procalcitonin and CRP values were consistently higher in patients with anastomotic leakage at all postoperative days. The maximum area under the curve (AUC) for procalcitonin was observed at postoperative day 1 (AUC = 0.823) with a cutoff value of 3.8 ng/mL (83.3% sensitivity, 81.3% specificity). For CRP, the maximum AUC was found at postoperative day 3 (AUC = 0.833) with a cutoff level of 30.5 mg/dL (100% sensitivity, 80.4% specificity).

CONCLUSIONS

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein are potential biomarkers for early detection of anastomotic leakage after ovarian cancer surgery with bowel resection. Further prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm these findings.

Development and Validation of a Novel Nomogram Model for Early Diagnosis of Anastomotic Leakage After Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Background: This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of inflammatory factors for predicting anastomotic leakage (AL) after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery and establish a nomogram model to assess the probability of its occurrence. Patients and Methods: Data of 637 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery between June 2019 and June 2022 were collected. Differences in procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels before surgery and on postoperative day (POD) 3 and 5 were compared between patients with and without AL (AL and non-AL groups, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and a nomogram model was developed. Results: Post-operative AL occurred in 46 (7.2%) patients. Procalcitonin, CRP, and WBC levels on POD 3 and 5 were higher in the AL group than in the non-AL group. The AUCs of PCT, CRP, and WBC levels for predicting AL on POD 3 were 0.833, 0.757, and 0.756, respectively, which were better than those on POD 5 (AUC = 0.669, 0.581, and 0.588, respectively). The nomogram model for AL was developed based on five variables (PCT, CRP, WBC, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] grade and comorbidities), and it had an AUC of 0.922. Calibration curves demonstrated that the nomogram had good fit. The Delong test showed that the AUC of the nomogram for predicting the probability of AL was higher than that of PCT alone (z = 2.311, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Procalcitonin measured on POD 3 seems to be a promising negative predictor of AL after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. Furthermore, the nomogram model developed in our study, which utilizes a series of predictors that can be easily accessed, has demonstrated potential to further improve the prediction accuracy.

Serum and peritoneal biomarkers for the early prediction of symptomatic anastomotic leakage in patients following laparoscopic low anterior resection: A single-center prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the common complications after rectal cancer surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the combination of biomarkers for the early prediction of symptomatic AL after surgery.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study evaluated the serum and peritoneal biomarkers of patients who underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection (Lap LAR) from November 1, 2021, to May 1, 2022. Multivariate-penalized logistic regression was performed to explore the independent biomarker with a P-value <.1, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of the independent biomarkers. A predictive model for symptomatic AL was built based on the independent biomarkers and was visualized with a nomogram. The calibration curve with the concordance index (c-index) was further applied to evaluate the efficacy of the predictive model.

RESULTS

A total of 157 patients were included in this study, and 7 (4.5%) were diagnosed with symptomatic AL. C-reactive protein/album ratio (CAR) on postoperative day 1 and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and peritoneal interleukin-6 (IL-6) on postoperative day 3 were proven to be independent predictors for the early prediction of symptomatic AL. The optimal cutoff values of CAR, SII, and peritoneal IL-6 were 1.04, 916.99, and 26430.09 pg/ml, respectively. Finally, the nomogram, including these predictors, was established, and the c-index of this nomogram was 0.812, indicating that the nomogram could be used for potential clinical reference.

CONCLUSION

The combination of CAR, SII, and peritoneal IL-6 might contribute to the early prediction of symptomatic AL in patients following Lap LAR. Given the limitations of this study and the emergence of other novel biomarkers, multicenter prospective studies are worthy of further exploration.

C-reactive Protein and Procalcitonin Levels to Predict Anastomotic Leak After Colorectal Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leak (AL) is a feared complication after colorectal surgery. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial. C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) have been proposed as early AL indicators. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the CRP and CPT predictive values for early AL diagnosis after colorectal surgery.

METHODS

Systematic literature search to identify studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of postoperative CRP and CPT for AL. A Bayesian meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model and pooled predictive parameters to determine postoperative CRP and PCT cut-off values at different postoperative days (POD).

RESULTS

Twenty-five studies (11,144 patients) were included. The pooled prevalence of AL was 8% (95 CI 7-9%), and the median time to diagnosis was 6.9 days (range 3-10). The derived POD3, POD4 and POD5 CRP cut-off were 15.9 mg/dl, 11.4 mg/dl and 10.9 mg/dl respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was comparable with a pooled area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (95% CIs 0.23-0.85), 0.84 (95% CIs 0.18-0.86) and 0.84 (95% CIs 0.18-0.89) respectively. Negative likelihood ratios (LR-) showed moderate evidence to rule out AL on POD 3 (LR- 0.29), POD4 (LR- 0.24) and POD5 (LR- 0.26). The derived POD3 and POD5 CPT cut-off were 0.75 ng/ml (AUC = 0.84) and 0.9 ng/ml (AUC = 0.92) respectively. The pooled POD5 negative LR (-0.18) showed moderate evidence to rule out AL.

CONCLUSIONS

In the setting of colorectal surgery, CRP and CPT serum concentrations lower than the derived cut-offs on POD3-POD5, may be useful to rule out AL thus possibly identifying patients at low risk for AL development.

The Predictive Value of PCT and Other Infection Indicators in Postoperative Infection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Purpose

To study the early predictive value of WBC, CRP and PCT on infectious complications after epithelial ovarian cancer surgery, draw ROC curves, and construct a nomogram prediction model.

Patients and Methods

The clinical data of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer in Shengjing Hospital from August 2019 to August 2022 were included. The levels of WBC, CRP and PCT were statistically analyzed on the first, third and fifth days after surgery, and the ROC was plotted. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined independent influencing factors, individualized nomogram model for predicting the occurrence of postoperative infectious complications was constructed, and the correction curve was used for verification.

Results

A total of 116 patients were enrolled. The postoperative test levels of WBC, CRP and PCT were compared between two groups, and the differences on POD3 and POD5 were statistically significant. The ROC area on POD5 was 0.739, 0.838 and 0.804, respectively, better than that on POD3. Among them, CRP has the greatest value; The predicted value of the combined test of WBC, CRP and PCT on POD5 was greater than that of a single index on POD5. The nomogram model on POD5 was constructed, and the ROC analysis showed that it had a good degree of differentiation.

Conclusion

WBC, CRP and PCT can effectively predict the occurrence of postoperative infectious complications, among which CRP alone has the greatest diagnostic value on POD5, and the combined test value of the three indicators is higher than that of a single index. The nomogram model constructed by the combined indicators on POD5 can assess the risk individually.

Predictive value of C-reactive protein levels for the early and later detection of postoperative complications after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC

Synopsis

C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells and procalcitonin (PCT) participate in the systemic response to inflammation and increase after postoperative infective complications. Postoperative complications after CRS and HIPEC could be predicted using the CRP cut-off value (169 mg/L at PODs 3-5 and 62 mg/L at PODs 7-10).

Background

Postoperative elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) can be used in order to predict the postoperative complications in many indications. Cytoreduction surgery (CRS) associated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is associated with high morbidity.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the CRP predictive value for the occurrence of complications.

Methods

All patients who had CRS and HIPEC, regardless of the origin of peritoneal metastasis, were included in this retrospective study. Postoperative complications and CRP and white blood cell (WBC) counts were recorded from postoperative day (POD) 1 through 10.

Results

Among the 127 patients included, 58 (45.7%) had no complications (NCs), 53 (41.7%) had infective complications (ICs), and 16 (12.6%) had non-infective complications (NICs). The IC group had a higher CRP value than the NC group, which was statistically significant from POD7 to POD10 (41.1 versus 107.5 p = 0.023 and 77.8 versus 140 p = 0.047, respectively). A cut-off CRP value was 169 mg/L at PODs 3-5 and 62 mg/L at PODs 7-10. The area under the curve (AUC) at POD5 was 0.56 versus 0.76 at POD7, p=0.007. The sensibility, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of these cut-offs were 55%, 83%, 74% and 67%, respectively. Moreover, 17 patients (32%) with ICs had a CRP value higher than these cut-offs before the diagnosis was made by the medical team.

Conclusion

This study suggested that postoperative complications could be predicted using the CRP cut-off value on PODs 3-5 (169 mg/l) and PODs 7-10 (62 mg/l) after CRS and HIPEC.

C-Reactive Protein as Predictor for Infectious Complications after Robotic and Open Esophagectomies

Introduction: The value of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a predictor of anastomotic leakage (AL) after esophagectomy has been addressed by numerous studies. Despite its increasing application, robotic esophagectomy (RAMIE) has not been considered separately yet in this context. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the predictive value of CRP in RAMIE. Material and Methods: Patients undergoing RAMIE or completely open esophagectomy (OE) at our University Center were included. Clinical data, CRP- and Procalcitonin (PCT)-values were retrieved from a prospectively maintained database and evaluated for their predictive value for subsequent postoperative infectious complications (PIC) (AL, gastric conduit leakage or necrosis, pneumonia, empyema). Results: Three hundred and five patients (RAMIE: 160, OE: 145) were analyzed. PIC were noted in 91 patients on postoperative day (POD) 10 and 123 patients on POD 30, respectively. Median POD of diagnosis of PIC was POD 8. Post-operative CRP-values in the robotic-group peaked one and two days later, respectively, and converged from POD 5 onward compared to the open-group. In the group with PIC, CRP-levels in the robotic-group were initially lower and started to differ significantly from POD 3 onward. In the open-group, increases were already noticed from POD 3 on. Procalcitonin levels did not differ. Best Receiver operating curve (ROC)-results were on POD 4, highest negative predictive values at POD 5 (RAMIE) and POD 4 (OE) with cut-off values of 70 mg/L and 88.3 mg/L, respectively. Conclusion: Post-operative CRP is a good negative predictor for PIC, after both RAMIE and OE. After RAMIE, CRP peaks later with a lower cut-off value.

Diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the early diagnosis of infections after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

We aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy of postoperative procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the detection of infectious complications in patients after laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, as opposed to all colorectal surgery.

METHODS

Between December 2018 and December 2020, 204 patients who underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery were enrolled retrospectively. The PCT, CRP and white blood cell (WBC) count were measured before surgery and on postoperative days (PODs) 3 and 5. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Net Reclassification Index (NRI) was used to calculate the ability to correct reclassification.

RESULTS

Infectious complications occurred in 36 patients (17.6%), including 17 cases of anastomotic leakage (AL) (8.3%). The AUCs of PCT and CRP in predicting infectious complications on POD 3 were 0.690 and 0.731, respectively, which were better than those on POD 5 (AUC 0.666 and 0.697, respectively). PCT with an optimal cutoff value of 1.10 ng/mL (AUC 0.792, specificity 78.6%, negative predictive value [NPV] 96.6%), CRP with an optimal cutoff value of 109.5 mg/L (AUC 0.760, specificity 78.6%, NPV 96.1%) on POD 3 had superior diagnostic accuracy in predicting AL, both better than WBC (AUC 0.627). The AUC of combining PCT and CRP on POD 3 in predicting AL was 0.851, with a specificity of 79.7% and NPV of 97.4%, and the NRI was estimated to be 7.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Both PCT and CRP on POD 3 are excellent negative predictors for early monitoring of infectious complications, especially AL, in patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery.

Anastomotic leakage in colorectal cancer surgery

The safety of colorectal surgery for oncological disease is steadily improving, but anastomotic leakage is still the most feared and devastating complication from both a surgical and oncological point of view. Anastomotic leakage affects the outcome of the surgery, increases the times and costs of hospitalization, and worsens the prognosis in terms of short- and long-term outcomes. Anastomotic leakage has a wide range of clinical features ranging from radiological only finding to peritonitis and sepsis with multi-organ failure. C-reactive protein and procalcitonin have been identified as early predictors of anastomotic leakage starting from postoperative day 2-3, but abdominal-pelvic computed tomography scan is still the gold standard for the diagnosis. Several treatments can be adopted for anastomotic leakage. However, there is not a universally accepted flowchart for the management, which should be individualized based on patient's general condition, anastomotic defect size and location, indication for primary resection and presence of the proximal stoma. Non-operative management is usually preferred in patients who underwent proximal faecal diversion at the initial operation. Laparoscopy can be attempted after minimal invasive surgery and can reduce surgical stress in patients allowing a definitive treatment. Reoperation for sepsis control is rarely necessary in those patients who already have a diverting stoma at the time of the leak, especially in extraperitoneal anastomoses. In patients without a stoma who do not require abdominal reoperation for a contained pelvic leak, there are several treatment options, including laparoscopic diverting ileostomy combined with trans-anal anastomotic tube drainage, percutaneous drainage or recently developed endoscopic procedures, such as stent or clip placement or endoluminal vacuum-assisted therapy. We describe the current approaches to treat this complication, as well as the clinical tests necessary to diagnose and provide an effective therapy.

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.

Serial estimation of serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin for early detection of anastomotic leak after elective intestinal surgeries: a prospective cohort study

Objectives

Anastomotic leak can adversely affect the outcome of surgery especially if detected late. The present study was carried out to detect the anastomotic leak early in the postoperative period using serial estimation of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Material and Methods

A single centre prospective cohort study was done on patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgery with anastomosis. Serial estimation of serum procalcitonin and C reactive protein was done on the first five postoperative days. Other parameters such as hemoglobin, total protein, albumin and WBC counts were noted perioperatively. Patients were followed up to 60th postoperative day to assess for anastomotic leak, wound infection and other septic foci.

Results

Eighty-four patients were included in the study. Anastomotic leak rate was 26.19% (22/84) and 3/22 patients died in the anastomotic leak group. Wound infection rate was 23.81%. The cut off value of CRP on third postoperative day in detecting anastomotic leak was 44.322 mg/dl with sensitivity of 72.73%, specificity of 66.13% and accuracy of 59.52%. The cut off value for WBC count measured perioperatively in detecting anastomotic leak was 9470 cell/mm³ with sensitivity of 72.73%, specificity of 56.45% and accuracy of 59.74%. Serum procalcitonin, haemoglobin, total protein and albumin measured were not sensitive enough to detect the anastomotic leak early.

Conclusion

Measuring CRP on the third postoperative day can predict anastomotic leak with a cut off value of 44.32 mg/dl. Patients with raised CRP need careful evaluation to rule out anastomotic leak before deciding on early discharge.

C-reactive Protein for Predicting Early Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Shaving for Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the accuracy of C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting early postoperative complications in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic shaving for rectosigmoid deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).

DESIGN

A single-center observational retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Third-level referral center for endometriosis.

PATIENTS

A total of 294 patients were included in the study. All of them underwent elective laparoscopic shaving for rectosigmoid DIE.

INTERVENTIONS

Postoperative CRP levels (assessed from day 3 onward, every 48 hours, until hospital discharge) and early postoperative complications were reviewed to assess CRP as a predictive marker of postoperative complications.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The study outcomes were the association between early postoperative complications and CRP levels, the optimal CRP cutoff, and its predictive accuracy. Twenty-five patients (8.5%) experienced early postoperative complications. Five patients with postoperative complications within 2 days of surgery were excluded from the analysis. On postoperative day 3 the difference in the means of CRP levels between patients with and without complications was 2.5 mg/dL (95% CI, 1.0-4.1), whereas on day 5 the difference was 5.3 mg/dL (95% CI, 3.3-7.5), with a significant increase of 2.8 mg/dL (95% CI, 0.2-5.5). On postoperative day 7 the difference was 11.4 mg/dL (95% CI, 8.2-14.6), with an increase of 6.1 mg/dL (95% CI, 2.2-9.9) from day 5. The mean CRP level in the group with complications showed an increase of 1.2 mg/dL (95% CI, -1.3 to 3.8) from day 3 to day 5 and of 6.2 mg/dL (95% CI, 2.6-9.8) from day 5 to day 7. The optimal cutoff for the CRP level in predicting early postoperative complications was 3.1 mg/dL on postoperative day 3 and 5.2 mg/dL on postoperative day 5, with a sensitivity of 87.5% (95% CI, 52.9-97.8) and 80% (95% CI, 37.6-96.4), a specificity of 62.5% (95% CI, 52.1-71.9) and 91.2% (95% CI, 81.1-96.2), a positive predictive value of 17.5% (95% CI, 8.7-31.9) and 44.4% (95% CI, 18.9-73.3), a negative predictive value of 98.2% (95% CI, 90.6-99.7) and 98.1% (95% CI, 90.1-99.7), and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 75.0% (95% CI, 61.9-80.1) and 85.6% (95% CI, 74.1-96.5), respectively.

CONCLUSION

CRP on postoperative day 5 seemed to be a moderately accurate predictive marker of early postoperative complications in the patients who had undergone elective laparoscopic shaving for rectosigmoid DIE.

Oxidative Stress Level as a Predictor of Anastomotic Leakage after Rectal Surgery

Background

Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) after rectal surgery can reduce the adverse effects of AL, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are no accepted indicators or effective scoring systems that can clearly identify patients at risk of anastomotic leakage.

Methods

A prospective study with assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of oxidative stress level (CAT, SOD, MDA) in serum and drain fluid compared to white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neutrophil percentage (NEUT) in prediction of AL in patients undergoing elective rectal surgery with anastomosis.

Results

Most of the oxidative stress indicators we detected are of considerable significance in the diagnosis of anastomotic leakage. The level of MDA on postoperative day (POD)3 (areas under the curve (AUC): 0.831) and POD5 (AUC: 0.837) in the serum and on POD3 (AUC: 0.845) in the drain fluid showed the same excellent diagnostic accuracy as the level of CRP on the POD3 (AUC: 0.847) and POD5 (AUC: 0.896).

Conclusions

The overall level of oxidative stress in serum and drain fluid is a reliable indicator for the early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage after rectal surgery. More specifically, among the redox indicators analyzed, MDA has almost the same predictive value as CRP, which provides another useful biomarker for the early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage.

The role of CRP in the diagnosis of postoperative complications in rectal surgery

Postoperative complications of rectal resections classified as grade III or higher according to Clavien-Dindo system, which also include anastomotic leaks, are usually life-threatening conditions. Delayed diagnosis may account for almost 18% of deaths. Due to nonspecific clinical signs in the early postoperative period, diagnosing these complications may truly be a challenge for clinicians. Nowadays, with the implementation of the ERAS protocol (enhanced recovery after surgery) and efforts concentrated on quickly delivered treatment to patients suffering from the above-mentioned complications, an appropriate marker with high specificity is required. Postoperative levels of C-reactive protein in blood serum seem promising in this aspect. The presented study aimed to determine the cut-off level of serum C-reactive protein as a possible predictive factor for early diagnosis of serious postoperative complications associated with rectal resections. This could also lead clinicians to the diagnosis of anastomotic leak after other possible options are ruled out. This study is a retrospective observational analysis of patients who underwent open resection of rectal cancer during a one-year period. Collected data included risk factors (age, gender, BMI, bowel preparation), record of complications and C Reactive Protein (CRP) serum levels. The study included 162 patients. Uncomplicated postoperative course was observed in 58 patients (35.8%). Complications were present in 104 cases (64.2%), including surgical site infections (16.7%) and anastomotic leak (9.9%). The mortality rate was 2.5%. Serum CRP threshold predicting relevant complications reached a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 82.7% on POD 4, with a 175.4 mg/L cut-off value, burdened with a 95.7% negative predictive value. Postoperative serum C-reactive protein may be used as a good predictor of infectious complications, including anastomotic leaks. Measuring CRP levels in the early postoperative period may facilitate identification oflow-risk patients ensure early and safe discharges from hospital after rectal resections.

C-reactive protein can predict anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most significant complications after colorectal surgery, affecting length of stay, patient morbidity, mortality, and long-term oncological outcome. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level rises in infective and inflammatory states. Elevated CRP has been shown to be associated with anastomotic leak.

OBJECTIVE

Perform a meta-analysis of current CRP data in AL after colorectal surgery.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL databases STUDY SELECTION: Comparative studies studying serum CRP levels in adult patients with and without AL after colorectal surgery.

INTERVENTION(S)

Elective and emergency open, laparoscopic or robotic colorectal excisions for cancer and benign pathology.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mean serum CRP measurements between post-operative days (POD) 1 through 7 in patients with and without AL. Perform ROC analysis to determine cut-off CRP values to indicate AL.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies with 6647 patients (482 AL). Pooled mean time to diagnosis of AL was 7.70 days. AL associated with higher CRP on POD1 (mean difference (MD) 15.19, 95% CI 5.88-24.50, p = 0.001), POD2 (MD 51.98, 05% CI 37.36-66.60, p < 0.00001), POD3 (MD 96.92, 95% CI 67.96-125.89, p < 0.00001), POD4 (MD 93.15, 95% CI 69.47-116.84, p < 0.00001), POD5 (MD 112.10, 95% CI 89.74-134.45, p < 0.00001), POD6 (MD 98.38, 95% CI 80.29-116.46, p < 0.00001), and POD7 (MD 106.41, 95% CI 75.48-137.35, p < 0.00001) compared with no AL. ROC analysis identified a cut-off CRP of 148 mg/l on POD3 with sensitivity and specificity of 95%. On POD4 through POD7, cut-off levels were 123 mg/l, 115 mg/l, 105 mg/l, and 96 mg/l, respectively, with sensitivity and specificity of 100%.

LIMITATIONS

Study heterogeneity, some characteristics unreported, no RCT CONCLUSIONS: AL is associated with higher CRP levels on each post-operative day compared to no AL after colorectal surgery. The cut-off CRP values can be used to predict AL to expedite investigation and treatment.

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.

Monitoring of C-reactive protein decreases length of stay after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for cancer: a prospective case-matched study in 236 patients

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate a discharge strategy driven by monitoring of C-reactive protein (CRP) in a homogeneous group of patients undergoing laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer (TME).

METHOD

One hundred and thirteen patients who underwent a TME had CRP monitoring on postoperative day (POD) 5. Patients were discharged on POD 6 if the CRP level was ≤100 mg/L. Patients were matched (according to age, gender, body mass index, neoadjuvant pelvic irradiation and type of anastomosis) to 123 control patients who underwent the same operation with the same postoperative care but without CRP monitoring.

RESULTS

Postoperative 3-month overall [CRP group 62/113 (55%) vs controls 73/123 (59%); p = 0.487] and severe (i.e. Clavien-Dindo grade 3 and above) [CRP group 17/113 (15%) vs controls 19/123 (15%); p = 0.931] morbidity rates were similar between groups. Mean length of hospital stay (LHS) was significantly shorter in the CRP group (CRP group 9.7 ± 14 days vs controls 11.6 ± 7 days; p < 0.001). Discharge occurred on POD 6 in 55/113 (49%) patients from the CRP group vs 7/123 (6%) from the control group (p < 0.001). The rehospitalization rate [CRP group 19/113 (17%) vs controls 13/123 (11%); p = 0.177] was similar between groups. The CRP level on POD 5 had a diagnostic property to assess an anastomotic leakage with an area under the curve of 0.81.

CONCLUSION

In patients who underwent TME, a discharge strategy based on CRP monitoring significantly decreased LHS without increasing morbidity, mortality or rehospitalization rates.

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.

Post-operative procalcitonin and C-reactive protein predict pancreatic fistula after laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (CRPF) is a serious complication following laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). This study aimed to determine if C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) serum levels could be used as early biomarkers to predict CRPF after LPD.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we collected peri-operative data of patients who underwent LPD between January 2019 and November 2019. We compared serum levels of white blood cells (WBC), CRP, and PCT on post-operative days (POD) 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 between the CRPF and non-CRPF groups and analyzed the predictive risk factors for CRPF.

RESULTS

Among the 186 patients included in this study, 18 patients (9.7%) developed CRPF, including 15 and 3 patients with grade B and C fistulas, respectively. The mean WBC, CRP, and PCT levels were higher on most PODs in the CRPF group compared to the non-CRPF group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that CRP levels on POD 2, 5, and 7 can predict CRPF development after LPD, with the area under the curve (AUC) value reaching the highest level on POD 2 (AUC 0.794). PCT levels on POD 2, 3, 5, and 7 were highly predictive of CRPF after LPD. The highest AUC value was achieved on POD 3 [PCT > 2.10 ng/ml (AUC 0.951; sensitivity 88.2%, specificity 92.9%, P < 0.001)].

CONCLUSIONS

Both CRP and PCT levels can be used to predict CRPF development after LPD, with PCT having a higher predictive value.

Laparoscopic colorectal resection for deep infiltrating endometriosis: can we reliably predict anastomotic leakage and major postoperative complications in the early postoperative period?

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leakage (AL) and major complications after colorectal resection for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) have a remarkable impact on patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cell count (WBCs) and the Dutch Leakage Score (DLS) as reliable markers in the early diagnosis of AL and major complications after laparoscopic colorectal resection for DIE.

METHODS

262 consecutive women undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection for DIE between September 2017 and September 2018 were prospectively enrolled. WBCs, CRP, PCT and DLS were recorded at baseline and on postoperative day (POD) 2, 3 and 6 then statistically analyzed as predictors of AL and severe postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The AL rate was 3.2%. The major morbidity rate was 11.2%. No postoperative mortality was recorded. The postoperative trend of DLS and serum levels of CRP and PCT, but not WBCs, were significantly higher in women developing AL and severe complications. DLS had better sensitivity and specificity than biomarkers on all postoperative days as a predictor of AL and major complications. CRP and PCT have a low positive predictive value (PPV) and a high negative predictive value (NPV) for AL and major complications on POD3 and POD6. The risk of malnutrition was significantly related to AL.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of DLS as a standardized postoperative clinical monitoring system and CRP and PCT as serum biomarkers, allows the exclusion of AL and major complications in the early postoperative period after laparoscopic colorectal resection for DIE, thus ensuring a safe patient discharge.

Anastomotic leak after colorectal surgery: does timing affect failure to rescue?

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leak (AL) is a common complication after colectomy with a relatively high failure to rescue rate (FTR), or death after major complications. There is emerging evidence to suggest an early AL may be associated with increased technical difficulty. Whether the timing of an AL is associated with higher FTR has not been established.

METHODS

Patients who underwent a colectomy between 2012 and 2017 were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP database). The primary outcome was FTR after AL. The predictor variable used was day of post-operative leak (POD) categorized into early (POD ≤ 3), intermediate (3 < POD ≤ 20) and late (20 < POD ≤ 30) AL. These POD groups were compared to generate hypotheses to explain any association observed between timing of AL and FTR.

RESULTS

Of 135,539 identified patients, 4613 patients experienced an AL (3.4%) with an overall FTR of 6.4%. FTR differed by timing of AL: early AL was found to have a FTR of 28/195 (12.6%), with a FTR in intermediate AL of 152/2550 (5.6%) and 3/356 (0.8%) in late AL patients (p < 0.0001). When compared by timing of AL, patients differed by sex, pre-operative bowel preparation, de-functioning ostomy rates and re-operation rates (p < 0.05). Controlling for age, ASA, sex, emergency status, operative approach, indication, de-functioning ostomy, re-operation and concurrent procedure, an early AL was found to have a 2.3-fold increased risk of FTR (95% CI 1.38-3.84, p = 0.001), with a late AL having a 0.15-fold decreased risk (95% CI 0.04-0.49, p = 0.002), both compared to an intermediate AL.

CONCLUSION

Early ALs, occurring within three days of surgery, may carry a significant risk of FTR. Given the findings identified here, this may support the use of early detection algorithms and interventions of AL to minimize the risk of FTR.

Diagnosis and treatment of 471 patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Background

While the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has been largely kept under control in China, it remains a global pandemic, and the source, transmission route, and treatments of SARS-COV-2 are still being investigated. Here, we summarized the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of COVID-19 patients based on our clinical practice.

Methods

The clinical and imaging findings, treatments, and follow-up data of 471 patients with COVID-19 who were discharged from the Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital prior to February 6, 2020, were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Among these patients, there were 2 mild cases, 282 moderate cases, 181 severe cases, and 6 critical cases. There were 250 males and 221 females aged 17 to 90 years. The median age was 54 years in the severe/critical group, which was significantly older than in the mild/moderate group (P<0.05). 44.59% of them had one or more underlying diseases. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, expectoration, and dyspnea. The median body temperature in the severe/critical group was 39°C, which was significantly higher than in the mild/moderate group (P<0.05). The incidences of lymphopenia and CD4⁺ T lymphocytopenia were 53.5% and 41.86%, respectively. Ground-glass opacity and small patchy shadows were the most common findings on chest computed tomography (CT). Compared with the mild/moderate group, the severe/critical group showed higher proportions of severe lymphocytopenia and CD4⁺ T lymphocytopenia, along with more ground-glass shadows and large-scale consolidation. After anti-infection, oxygen therapy, and symptomatic support, lymphocytes and CD4⁺ T lymphocytes were markedly increased, all patients were discharged. The median time of nucleic acid conversion and hospital stay were 9 and 12 days, respectively, which were significantly longer in the severe/critical group than in the mild/moderate group. Of the 390 cases followed, only 19 were hospitalized again due to other diseases. All patients recovered well from COVID-19, with negative nucleic acid test results.

Conclusions

Lymphocytopenia and CD4⁺ T lymphocytopenia were found to be associated with COVID-19 and thus may be important indicators in evaluating the severity and prognosis. Multidisciplinary management including antiviral treatment, immune regulation, and symptomatic support is effective, and yields a low recurrence rate.

Lymphocyte-White Cell Ratio Is a Novel Marker of Morbidity Following Colorectal Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

A preoperative marker for morbidity in patients with colorectal cancer would help to risk stratify patients and allow for timely intervention to avert poor outcomes. We conducted this study to evaluate preoperative lymphocyte-white blood cell ratio (LWR) as a marker of postoperative morbidity.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal cancer was reviewed. Three morbidity-related outcomes were described-overall morbidity, multiple morbidities, and severe morbidity, defined as Clavien-Dindo Class ≥3. Univariable and multivariable analyses of presurgical predictors of these three outcomes were performed. Preoperative variables included hemoglobin levels, neoadjuvant therapy, albumin levels, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, LWR, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and prognostic nutritional index.

RESULTS

Of 177 patients, 31.6% (56/177) suffered at least one morbidity, 15.3% (27/177) had multiple morbidities, 7.9% (14/177) suffered severe morbidity. On multivariate analysis, only LWR <0.180 (odds ratio [OR] 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-5.55) and neoadjuvant therapy (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.16-5.24) were associated with overall morbidity. For multiple morbidities and severe morbidity, only LWR <0.180 was significantly associated on multivariate analysis with an OR of 2.92 (95% CI 1.19-7.13) and 4.62 (95% CI 1.45-14.73), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

LWR is a preoperative marker which can be conveniently applied using standard preoperative blood tests. LWR is an independent risk factor for overall morbidity, multiple morbidities, as well as severe morbidity when used with a cut-off of LWR<1.80.

Short-term outcomes of pelvic floor peritoneum closure in endoscopic low anterior resection of rectal cancer: A propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of pelvic floor peritoneum closure (PC) during endoscopic low anterior resection (E-LAR) of rectal cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify whether pelvic floor PC affected short-term outcomes.

METHODS

The study group comprised patients with the pathologically confirmed diagnosis of rectal cancer who underwent E-LAR with pelvic floor PC or with no PC (NPC) between January 2013 and December 2018 in Southwest Hospital. After propensity score matching (PSM), 584 patients (292 who underwent PC and 292 who underwent NPC) were evaluated. Postoperative indicators, including the rates of complications, anastomotic leakage (AL), reoperation, and inflammation, were observed in the two groups.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in the rates of postoperative complications between the PC and NPC groups. The rates of AL were similar (11.3% vs. 9.2%, p = .414). However, the reoperation rate of patients in the PC group was significantly lower than that of patients in the NPC group after AL (36.4% vs. 11.1%, p = .025). The hospital costs were higher in the NPC leakage subgroup (p = .001). Additionally, the serum C-reactive protein levels were lower in the PC group on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, and 5, whereas procalcitonin levels on POD 1 and 3 were lower in the PC group but did not differ significantly on POD 5.

CONCLUSION

Pelvic peritonization did not affect the rate of complications, especially AL; however, it effectively reduced the reoperation and inflammation rates and reduced hospitalization costs. Other short-term outcomes were similar, which warrant the increased use of pelvic peritonization in endoscopic surgery.

Early detection of infectious complications using C-reactive protein and the procalcitonin levels after laparoscopic colorectal resection: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

The predictive values of the C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels for postoperative infectious complications were investigated in patients who underwent elective laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 154 consecutive patients who underwent elective laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer (CRC) were prospectively studied. The CRP and PCT levels on the first postoperative day (POD1) and the fourth postoperative day (POD4) were measured. Any correlations between the CRP and PCT levels on POD1 and POD4 with the occurrence of infectious complications were examined.

RESULTS

Infectious complications occurred in 18 (11.7%) patients. CRP on POD1 and CRP and PCT on POD4 were significantly higher in patients who developed infectious complications than in those who did not. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of CRP on POD1 and CRP and PCT on POD4 were 0.597, 0.763 and 0.768, respectively. The cut-off values of CRP and PCT levels on POD4 were 14.33 mg/dl and 0,264 ng/ml, respectively. Whereas the positive predictive value of an elevated CRP level was high, the negative predictive value of an elevated PCT was high.

CONCLUSION

The CRP and PCT levels on POD4 are both considered to be useful for the early detection of infectious complications after laparoscopic resection of CRC.

Serum procalcitonin as an early diagnostic marker of severe postoperative complications after elective pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical utility of serum procalcitonin (PCT) as a diagnostic marker for the severe postoperative complications associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODS

A total of 387 patients were enrolled and the PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) values were compared between the non-severe complications group (Clavien-Dindo classification Grade IIIb and lower) and severe complications (Grade IVa and higher).

RESULTS

Severe complications occurred in 16 patients. In the severe complications group, CRP levels peaked on postoperative day (POD) 3, whereas PCT levels peaked on POD 1. The PCT levels on PODs 1-5 were significantly higher in the severe complications group. Regarding the diagnostic performance, the PCT value on POD 2 higher than 2.1 ng/mL revealed the highest performance, with 66.7% sensitivity and 78.6% specificity. Based on the postoperative kinetics and multivariate analysis, PCT and CRP both act independently of each other and the combination assay improved the diagnostic power (area under the curve 0.781; sensitivity 60.0%; specificity 85.6%). Preoperative biliary drainage was found to affect the perioperative PCT values and subgroup analysis stratified by the drainage procedure improved diagnostic sensitivity (~85%).

CONCLUSIONS

Procalcitonin in the early postoperative period can serve as an earlier detector for the development of severe complications after PD.

Clinical predictive efficacy of C-reactive protein for diagnosing infectious complications after gastric surgery

BACKGROUND

With the popularization of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), identifying patients with complications before discharging becomes important. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting infectious complications after gastrectomy.

METHODS

Patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy at Beijing Cancer Hospital from March 2017 to April 2018 were enrolled in the training set. Complications were prospectively registered. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CRP via evaluating the area under the curve (AUC). Patients who had CRP tested on postoperative day (POD) 5 and accepted gastrectomy from April to December 2018 were included in the validation set to validate the cut-off value of CRP obtained from the training set.

RESULTS

A total of 350 patients were included (263 patients in the training set and 87 patients in the validation set). Out of these, 24 patients were diagnosed with infectious complications and 17 patients had anastomotic leakage in the training set. The CRP level on POD5 had superior diagnostic accuracy for infectious complications with an AUC of 0.81. The cut-off value of CRP on POD5 at 166.65 mg/L yielded 93% specificity and 97.2% negative predict value (NPV); For anastomotic leakage, the AUC of CRP on POD5 was 0.81. Using the cut-off value of CRP at 166.65 mg/L on POD5 achieved 92% specificity and 98.6% NPV. The optimal cut-off value (CRP 166.65 mg/L on POD5) was validated in the validation set. It achieved 97.5% specificity and 94.0% NPV for infectious complications, and 97.6% specificity and 96.4% NPV for anastomotic leakage.

CONCLUSION

CRP is a reliable predictive marker for the diagnosis of inflammatory complications following gastric surgery. However, this study was based on preliminary data. The validity of this data needs confirmation by a larger number of cases.

ERAS protocol compliance impact on functional recovery in colorectal surgery

INTRODUCTION

Compliance to ERAS protocols is a process quality measure that is associated to better outcomes. The main objective of this study is to analyze the association between protocol compliance, surgical stress and functional recovery. The secondary objective is to identify independent factors associated to functional recovery.

METHODS

A prospective observational single-centre study was performed. Patients who had scheduled colorectal surgery within an ERAS program from January 2017 to June 2018 were included. We analysed the relationship between protocol compliance percentage and surgical stress (defined by C reactive protein [CRP] blood levels on postoperative 3^rd day), and functional recovery (defined by the proportion of patients who meet the discharge criteria on the 5^th PO day or before). Multivariate analysis was performed to asses independent factor associated to functional recovery.

RESULTS

313 were included. For every additional percentage point of compliance to the protocol 3^rd day C reactive protein plasmatic level decreases 1,46 mg/dL and increases 7% the probability to meet the discharge criteria (p < 0.001 both). Independent factors associated to functional recovery were ASA III-IV (OR 0.26; 0.14-0.48), surgical CR-POSSUM score (OR 0.68; 0.57-0.83), early mobilization (OR 4.22; 1.43-12.4) and removal of urinary catheter (OR 3.35; 1.79-6.27), p < 0,001 each of them.

CONCLUSION

Better compliance to ERAS protocol in colorectal surgery decreases surgical stress and accelerates functional recovery.

Predictive value of inflammatory markers for postoperative recovery following colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

Using biological markers to predict serious complications and global postoperative recovery, to ensure safe and timely patient discharge after elective colorectal surgery represents a major challenge. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that C-reactive protein levels < 172 mg/l on postoperative day 3 were associated with postoperative recovery within 5 days.

METHODS

This is a prospective study of a consecutive bicentric cohort. Successive patients scheduled for bowel resection with anastomosis, without stoma, were included. The main composite endpoint for overall postoperative recovery included absence of fever, absence of pain > 2 on the visual analog scale, intestinal gas transit, and patient autonomy for mobility and body care.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-height patients, with a mean age of 65 years old, were analyzed. Ninety patients (53%) underwent right colectomy and 131 (77%) were operated on by laparoscopy. Severe postoperative complications were observed in 11 patients (6%). One hundred twenty patients (71%) recovered within 5 days. C-reactive protein levels < 172 mg/L on postoperative day 3 had a negative predictive value of 80% to predict recovery within 5 days. Ninety-five percent of patients with C-reactive protein < 172 mg/L at postoperative day 3 had no severe postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Levels of C-reactive protein < 172 mg/L at postoperative day 3 corresponded with an early recovery in 80% of cases, thus allowing safe and early discharge without risk of serious complications.

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.

Low Postoperative Levels of C-Reactive Protein Are an Early Predictor for an Uncomplicated Course After Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective, Validated Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery is popularly used to treat or prevent morbidity in severely obese patients. Severe complications are rare, but their early detection has a significant impact on clinical outcomes. We aimed to determine whether blood tests in the first few postoperative days are reliable predictors for complications.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 1073 patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery between 2009 and 2018 at our center. Clinical outcome was correlated with postoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, and vital signs, analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A total of 570 procedures between 2009 and 2015 were used to calculate the best cutoff values (calculation group), which were validated with 330 different patients operated upon between 2016 and 2018 (validation group).

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients (4.2%) developed anastomotic or staple-line leakages in the calculation group. The ROC curve showed a good reliability for CRP levels on day 2 (area under the ROC curve=0.86); the highest Youden index existed for a cutoff of 119 mg/L. White blood cell count and heart rate were poor predictors. Even though several characteristics differed in the validation cohort, test quality of the cutoff was high (sensitivity, 71.4%; specificity, 94.9%; positive predictive value, 23.8%; negative predictive value, 99.3%). The prediction was excellent especially for leakages appearing on days 2 to 9 (sensitivity 100.0%, negative predictive value 100%). Leakages from day 10 were rare and prediction poor (sensitivity 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

A CRP level on day 2 <120 mg/L is a good predictor of a postoperative course without leakage, even though the predictive value goes down for late-appearing events. An earlier CRP measurement added no predictive benefit. The cutoff value was validated in an internal cohort and could be applied to different populations.

Serum C-reactive protein is a useful marker to exclude anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery

Anastomotic leakage is a complication of colorectal surgery. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase marker that can indicate surgical complications. We determined whether serum CRP levels in patients who had undergone colorectal surgery can be used to exclude the presence of anastomotic leakage and allow safe early discharge. We included 90 patients who underwent colorectal surgery with primary anastomosis. Serum CRP levels were measured retrospectively on postoperative days (PODs) 1 - 7. Patients with anastomotic leakage (n = 11) were compared to those without leakage (n = 79). We statistically analysed data and plotted receiver operating characteristic curves. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 12.2%. Diagnoses were made on PODs 3 - 24. The overall mortality rate was 3.3% (18.2% in the leakage group, 1.3% in the non-leakage group; P < 0.045). CRP levels were most accurate on POD 4, with a cutoff level of 180 mg/L, showing an area under the curve of 0.821 and a negative predictive value of 97.2%. Lower CRP levels after POD 2 and levels <180 mg/L on POD 4 may indicate the absence of anastomotic leakage and may allow safe discharge of patients who had undergone colorectal surgery with primary anastomosis.

Intolerance to early oral feeding in enhanced recovery after colorectal surgery: an early red flag?

AIM

Enhanced recovery programmes (ERPs) involve early postoperative oral feeding. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that intolerance to early feeding was associated with a complicated postoperative course.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort analysis of the prospective multicentre database developed by the Francophone Group for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (GRACE) was undertaken. Seventy-one centres in Belgium, France and Switzerland participated in the study. All patients were encouraged to eat within 24 h after surgery. Patients were separated into two groups according to whether early feeding was well tolerated (WT) or poorly tolerated (PT). The primary outcome measure was overall postoperative complications. Secondary outcome measures were unplanned reoperation, early mobilization rate and duration of postoperative hospital stay.

RESULTS

Among the cohort of 3034 patients, early feeding was WT in 2614 patients (WT group) and PT in 420 patients (PT group). There were significantly more postoperative complications in the PT group than in the WT group (52.1% vs 17.0%, respectively; P = 0.001), namely more unplanned reoperations, less early mobilization and longer postoperative hospital stay. Multivariate analyses confirmed that PT early feeding was the main and dominant independent factor for postoperative complications [OR 4.47 (95% CI3.49-5.72); P < 0.001], more unplanned reoperations and longer hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a close relationship between intolerance to early feeding and a complicated postoperative course. Whenever this simple very early red flag is observed, discharge should not be planned until postoperative complications have been ruled out.

A Decalogue to Avoid Routine Ileostomy in Selected Patients With Border Line Risk to Develop Anastomotic Leakage After Minimally Invasive Low-Anterior Resection: A Pilot Study

Purpose. Protective ileostomy (PI) during anterior resection (AR) for rectal cancer decreases the incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL) and its subsequent complications, but it may itself be the cause of morbidity. The aim is to report our protocol in the management of selected patients with borderline risk to develop AL after laparoscopic AR and ghost ileostomy (GI) creation. Methods. Patients who underwent AR were stratified based on the risk to develop AL. Steps to avoid PI were splenic flexure mobilization, reduced pelvic bleeding, to employ different stapler charge if neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy is performed, to perform a horizontal section of the rectum, to evaluate the anastomotic vascularization with a fluorescence angiography, to perform a side-to-end anastomosis, intraoperative methylene blue test, pelvic and transanal drainage tubes placement, and the GI creation. After surgery, inflammatory blood markers were monitored to detect potential leakages. Results. Twelve patients were included. In one case, the specimen proximal section was changed after fluorescence angiography. There were no conversions in this group of patients. One postoperative AL occurred and was treated with radiological drainage placement, not being necessary to convert the GI. PI was avoided in 100% of cases. Conclusions. Patients' characteristics cannot be changed, but several steps were used to avoid routine PI creation. The present protocol could be a valuable option to avoid PI in selected patients. Further studies with a wider sample size, and defined criteria to stratify the patients based on the risk to develop AL, are required.

Effect of different carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation for laparoscopic colorectal surgery in elderly patients: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that dry CO2 insufflation during laparoscopic colorectal surgery results in greater structural injury to the peritoneum and longer hospital stay than the use of warm, humidified CO2. We aimed to test the hypothesis that warm, humidified CO2 insufflation could reduce postoperative pain and improve recovery in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

METHODS

One hundred fifty elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery under general anesthesia from May 2017 to October 2018 were randomly divided into 3 groups. The primary outcomes were resting pain, cough pain, and consumption of sufentanil at 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. Quality of visual image, hemodynamic changes, esophageal temperature, mean skin temperature, mean body temperature, recovery time, days to first flatus and solid food intake, shivering, incidence of postoperative ileus, length of hospital stay, surgical site infections, patients and surgeon satisfaction scores, adverse events, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time were recorded.

RESULTS

Group CE patients were associated with significantly higher early postoperative cough pain and sufentanil consumption than the other 2 groups (P < .05). Compared with group CE, patients in both groups WH and CF had significantly reduced intraoperative hypothermia, recovery time of PACU, days to first flatus and solid food intake, and length of hospital stay, while the satisfaction scores of both patients and surgeon were significantly higher (P < .05). Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time were significantly higher in group CE from 60 minutes after pneumoperitoneum to the end of pneumoperitoneum than the other 2 groups (P < .05). The number of patients with a shivering grade of 0 was significantly lower and grade of 3 was significantly higher in group CE than in the other 2 groups (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Use of either warm, humidified CO2 insufflations or 20°C, 0% relative humidity CO2 combined with forced-air warmer set to 38°C during insufflations can both reduce intraoperative hypothermia, dysfunction of coagulation, early postoperative cough pain, sufentanil consumption, days to first flatus, solid food intake, and length of hospital stay.

Drain fluid's pH predicts anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery: results of a prospective analysis of 173 patients

BACKGROUND

The early risk assessment of anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal surgery is crucial. Several markers have been proposed, including peritoneal fluid's pH. Aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of drain fluid pH as predictor of AL.

METHODS

All patients undergoing colorectal surgery from January 2015 to December 2017 were considered eligible. Hartmann procedures, procedures including temporary ileostomy and emergency surgery were excluded. Drain fluid was submitted for pH and chemical-physical assessment on postoperative day 1 (POD1) and postoperative day 3 (POD3).

RESULTS

Out of 173 patients, those who developed AL showed a lower drain fluid's pH on POD1 and on POD3 compared to patients who did not (P<0.05). The plotted ROC curves identified 7.53 as pH cut-off on POD1 (AUC 0.80) and 7.21 on POD3 (AUC 0.86). With both the cut-offs, pH was an independent predictor of AL at multivariable analysis (P<0.001). pH<7.53 on POD1 and pH<7.21 on POD3 showed 93.75% sensitivity and 97% specificity respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Drain fluid's pH on POD1 is useful to select patients who will not develop AL while on POD3 it might identify those requiring a more careful management.

Near-infrared fluorescence image-guidance in anastomotic colorectal cancer surgery and its relation to serum markers of anastomotic leakage: a clinical pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) might help reduce anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery. This pilot study aims to analyze whether a relation exists between measured fluorescence intensity (FI) and postoperative inflammatory markers of AL, C-reactive protein (CRP), Intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (I-FABP), and calprotectin, to AL, in order to evaluate the potential of FI to objectively predict AL.

METHODS

Patients scheduled for anastomotic colorectal cancer surgery were eligible for inclusion in this prospective pilot study. During surgery, at three time points (after bowel devascularization; before actual transection; after completion of anastomosis) a bolus of 0.2 mg/kg ICG was administered intravenously for assessment of bowel perfusion. FI was scored in scale from 1 to 5 based on the operating surgeon's judgment (1 = no fluorescence visible, 5 = maximum fluorescent signal). The complete surgical procedure was digitally recorded. These recordings were used to measure FI postoperatively using OsiriX imaging software. Serum CRP, I-FABP, and calprotectin values were determined before surgery and on day 1, 3, and 5 postoperative; furthermore, the occurrence of AL was recorded.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (n = 19 males; mean age 67 years; mean BMI 27.2) undergoing either laparoscopic or robotic anastomotic colorectal surgery were included. Indication for surgery was rectal-(n = 10), rectosigmoid-(n = 2), sigmoid-(n = 10), or more proximal colon carcinomas (n = 8). Five patients (16.7%) developed AL (n = 2 (6.6%) grade C according to the definition of the International Study group of Rectal Cancer). In patients with AL, the maximum fluorescence score was given less often (P = 0.02) and a lower FI compared to background FI was measured at 1st assessment (P = 0.039). However, no relation between FI and postoperative inflammatory parameters could be found.

CONCLUSION

Both subjective and measured FI seem to be related to AL. In this study, no relation between FI and inflammatory serum markers could yet be found.

Early Active Drainage by Fine Tube Bundles Improves the Clinical Outcome of Anastomotic Leak after Abdominal Surgery: A Pilot Randomized, Controlled Trial in Two Tertiary Hospitals in China

BACKGROUND

Post-operative anastomotic leak (PAL) is the most feared complication after abdominal surgery. Timely drainage of enteric effluent is beneficial in the healing of PAL.

METHODS

We introduced a new and feasible approach for early active drainage of PAL using fine tube bundles (FTBs). The therapeutic effects of FTBs were observed prospectively and compared with the traditional drainage tube without FTBs in a non-blinded randomized controlled trial.

RESULTS

Sixty patients with PAL in two tertiary hospitals in China from 2010 to 2016 were included in this study. Of these patients, 30 received FTBs and 30 were treated with a traditional drainage tube. The implantation failure rate was zero in the FTB group. No statistical difference was observed between the two groups in terms of demographic data. After these interventions, patients in the FTB group showed a faster decline in infection-related indictors, a higher ratio of spontaneous PAL closure, and shorter treatment duration of antibacterial agents compared with those in the traditional drainage tube group. Fatal complications and financial cost were also reduced in the FTB group.

CONCLUSION

Fine tube bundles may contribute to the healing of PAL through active drainage. This method should be validated by further clinical trials for wider use.