Abstract PR010

Background & Objectives: Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated a non-specific acute systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) [1]. Also, sepsis after cardiac surgery is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Early sepsis recognition and intervention improves outcomes. Procalcitonin (PCT) has emerged as a biomarker for bacterial infections because it correlates with the extent and severity of microbial invasion and with outcome [2, 3]. We examined the use of serial samples of procalcitonin for early detection of patients with SIRS with or without infection after coronary artery bypass surgery. Materials & Methods: After institutional research ethical committee approval and patients informed consent thirty six patients were studied. Samples for procalcitonin were taken before induction of anesthesia, and daily for four consecutive days after surgery. Also,after surgery, clinical investigations, including body temperature and microbiologic and radiologic examinations, were performed daily until intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. The American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine consensus classification used for diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and sepsis. Results: Mean age (Sd) of the patients was 55.25 (7.4) years. Mean levels of procalcitonin were significantly higher in patient with SIRS (n= 22) at all the studied periods than in patients without (n=14) [Fig1]. Also, significant increase of mean serum procalcitonin at all studied periods than before induction levels in patients with SIRS, and only at first and third post operative days in patients without SIRS [Fig 1]. Eight patients out of twenty two with SIRS had infection. Procalictonin levels for septic patients markedly increased after surgery ranged from 1.20 to 50.30 ng/ml that was related to the severity of infection.Conclusion: High procalcitonin levels are associated with SIRS and infection after coronary artery bypass surgery. References: 1. Laffey JG, Boylan JF, Cheng DC. Anesthesiology 2002, 97:215–252. 2- Sexton PM, Christopoulous G, Christopoulous A, et al. Crit Care Med 2008; 36: 1637–40. 3- Prat C, Ricart P, Ruyra X, et al. J Card Surg 2008, 23(6):627–632. Disclosure of Interest: None declared