Link between the serum values of procalcitonin and postoperative complications in patients with sepsis and systemic infections who underwent operative interventions

Bulgarian Medical Journal, 2023, 17(4), 47-52.

K. Tsvetanova, M. Georgiev

Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive care, MU – Pleven

Abstract. The resistance to antimicrobial drugs is a rising threat to public health. Each year approximately 25,000 people in the EU die as a result of infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria. Infections in the EU, caused by such bacteria, lead to additional costs for healthcare equal to over 1.5 billion euro each year. The use of serum procalcitonin as a prognostic biomarker gives credible data for the occurrence of complications in the early post-operative period in patients with systemic infections and sepsis. Aim: To follow the link between the values of serum procalcitonin and post- operative complications in patients with sepsis and systemic infections who underwent operative interventions. Materials and methods: A prospective clinicoepidemiological study was conducted, including 43 patients with oncological diseases, who underwent surgeries in UMHAT “Sv. Marina” – Pleven, of whom 24 (55,8%) male and 19 (44,2 %) female. The mean age of the participants in the study was 66.60 ± 9.89 years, in the range between 48 and 88 years. Results: We proved that in the first 7 days of the postoperative period there was a significant trend for permanent rising of the values of procalcitonin. Higher values of procalcitonin were found in patients with two or more proved bacterial causative agents than in those with one proved bacterial causative agent. We found a statistically significant dependence between all complications occurring (leukocytosis, number of isolated bacterial causative agents, the rising of body temperature, coagulation disorders and elevated values of the liver enzymes). Conclusion: High values of procalcitonin correspond to the complications arising in sepsis such as leukocytosis, number of isolated bacteria, coagulation disorders, liver enzymes and high values of procalcitonin.

Key words: sepsis, systemic infection, procalcitonin, intensive care, complications

Address for correspondence: Prof. Kamelia Tsvetanova, e-mail: kamelia_tsvetanova@abv.bg.