Procalcitonin (PCT) level as a biomarker of post operative complication after major gastrointestinal Surgery: Comparable or better than c-reactive protein (CRP)

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been announced as a new biomarkers parameter of post operative complication and already been used widely in the routine clinical practice although it might be could not supported in the tertiary hospital especially in the developing countries. Early studies reported the sensitivity and specifity of the CRP level is a better prognostic factor than WBC level alone in predicting the post operative morbidity after major gastrointestinal surgery. Anastomosis leak was reported in 7 to 10% of resection during major gastrointestinal surgery (resection of colorectal cancer). In the early phase of anastomosis leak, clinical finding usually could not specific enough in diagnosed this complication and sometimes has been misdiagnosed as post operative pain. Nowadays, there are many biomarkers has been announced as post operative complication parameter, one of the promising biomarker is procalcitonin (PCT).