SSI Following Construction of Colorectal Anastomoses and C-Reactive Protein as Marker for Infectious Complications

Abstract

Introduction.Surgical site infection (SSI) incidence amounts to as much as 30% in patients after colorectal surgeries. Infectious complications after colorectal surgeries are characterised by the prevalence of deep forms of SSI with an unclear clinical presentation and difficulties in a timely diagnosis. An important aspect here is finding the earliest marker of the developing infectious complications and establishing its threshold value.Materials and methods. This is a prospective study of outcomes of colon resection and construction of colon anastomoses in 135 patients. Patients were split in two groups depending on the method of anastomosis construction. The C-reactive protein level was recorded prior to surgery and on days 3, 5, and 7 postop.Results and discussion.SSI was diagnosed in 32 patients (23.7%). Comparing the SSI incidence in different groups the authors established a statistically significant difference in favour of mechanical anastomosis; 9 patients (15.2%) against 23 patients (30.3%), р=0,0164. Statistically significant differences in CRP levels have been established between patients with SSI and patients without SSI at all the times the samples were taken postop. At the level of CRP higher than 100.5 mg/l (0.95 confidence range lower limit) the incidence of SSI increases significantly.Conclusion.Mechanical anastomosis conclusively reduces the incidence of SSI in the postop period by 15.1%. The CRP level of higher than 100.5 mg/l from day 3 postop can be considered a reliable predictor for the development of SSI.