ISSN : 1301-5680
e-ISSN : 2149-8156
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery     
Evaluation of procalcitonin, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels as early markers of postoperative complications following major thoracic surgery
Hıdır Esme1, Burhan Apilioğulları1, Recep Keşli2, Banu Yoldaş1, Taha Bekçi3, Mustafa Çalık2
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey
2Department of Microbiology, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey
3Department of Chest Diseases, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey
DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2012.166
Background: This prospective study aims to investigate the association between systemic inflammation and risk for postoperative complications in patients undergoing major thoracic surgery.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients (23 males, 14 females; mean age 53.9 years; range 44 to 72 years) undergoing thoracotomy for lung resection were included. Serum procalcitonin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) concentrations were measured at baseline and on the first, fifth and seventh day following surgery. Demographic data, reasons for thoracotomy, type of lung resection, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were recorded.

Results: Serum concentrations of procalcitonin, IL-6, and TNF-a after surgery were significantly higher compared to the preoperative values. Patients with postoperative complications had approximately a three-fold elevation in procalcitonin levels at postoperative days one and five, and a two-fold elevation in IL-6 levels at postoperative day seven, compared to patients without pulmonary complications. The procalcitonin levels on postoperative days one and five and IL-6 levels on postoperative day seven were significantly different between the groups with and without postoperative complications.

Conclusion: An elevated procalcitonin level on postoperative day one is a promising early marker of postoperative complications. Elevated concentrations of procalcitonin, IL-6, and TNF-a in the postoperative period are markers of the severity of surgical injury. These findings may contribute to alert us and make further examinations.

Keywords : Complications; interleukin 6; procalcitonin; thoracic surgery; tumor necrosis factor alpha
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