This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Meta‐analysis of the predictive value of C‐reactive protein for infectious complications in abdominal surgery. BJS 2015; 102: 590-598.

Published: 16th March 2015

Authors: M. Adamina, T. Steffen, I. Tarantino, U. Beutner, B. M. Schmied, R. Warschkow et al.

Background

The aim of this analysis was to assess the predictive value of C‐reactive protein (CRP) for the early detection of postoperative infectious complications after a variety of abdominal operations.

Method

A meta‐analysis of seven cohort studies from a single institution was performed. Laparoscopic gastric bypass and colectomies, as well as open resections of cancer of the colon, rectum, pancreas, stomach and oesophagus, were included. The predictive value of CRP was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

Of 1986 patients, 577 (29·1 (95 per cent c.i. 27·1 to 31·3) per cent) had at least one postoperative infectious complication. Patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass (383 patients) or colectomy (285), and those having open gastric (97) or colorectal (934) resections were combined in a meta‐analysis. Patients who had resection for cancer of the oesophagus (41) or pancreas (246) were analysed separately owing to heterogeneity. CRP levels 4 days after surgery had the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0·76, 95 per cent c.i. 0·73 to 0·78). Sensitivity and specificity were 68·5 (60·6 to 75·5) and 71·6 (66·6 to 76·0) per cent respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 50·4 (46·0 to 54·8) and 84·3 (80·8 to 87·3) per cent. The threshold CRP varied according to the procedure performed.

Conclusion

The negative predictive value of serum CRP concentration on day 4 after surgery facilitates reliable exclusion of postoperative infectious complications.

Full text

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Meta‐analysis of the predictive value of C‐reactive protein for infectious complications in abdominal surgery. BJS 2015; 102: 590-598.

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

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