This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Robert A. Mustard, Jr, MD, FRCS(C); John M. A. Bohnen, MD, FRCS(C); Sabeha Haseeb, MD; Rafal Kasina, MD

Arch Surg. 1987;122(1):69-73.

Abstract
• We studied 108 patients undergoing clean-contaminated and dirty surgical procedures to determine whether daily C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements for 14 days postoperatively could predict the occurrence of septic complications prior to clinical diagnosis. Diagnostic criteria for septic complications and positive CRP response were defined in advance of the study. The CRP assays were carried out using an automated laser nephelometer system after the patient's discharge from the hospital. Forty-six septic complications were diagnosed in 40 patients. These complications consisted of wound infection (23), urinary tract infection (11), pneumonia (six), upper respiratory tract infection (three), intra-abdominal abscess (one), and other (two). The CRP testing was found to have a positive predictive value of 69% and a negative predictive value of 78%. We conclude that serial CRP measurements may be a valuable adjunct to surgical care in patients at high risk of postoperative septic complications.

(Arch Surg 1987;122:69-73)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Surgery, Wellesley Hospital, University of Toronto.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 22, 1986.

Read before the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, Chicago, April 21, 1986.

Reprint requests to Department of Surgery, Wellesley Hospital, 160 Wellesley St E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4Y 1J3 (Dr Mustard).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

The post-operative changes in the level of inflammatory markers after posterior lumbar interbody fusion
Aono et al.
J Bone Joint Surg Br 2007;89-B:1478-1481.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Diagnostic Implications of C-Reactive Protein
Zimmerman et al.
Arch Surg 2003;138:220-224.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The acute phase response to cardiopulmonary bypass in children
Mitchell et al.
Perfusion 1996;11:103-112.
ABSTRACT  

Invited Review: Nutrition Support in Trauma Patients
Bynoe et al.
Nutr Clin Pract 1988;3:137-144.