Key result
Higher preoperative CRP links to postoperative infective complications but not anastomotic leak or overall morbidity.
Why the study?
While postoperative CRP is routinely used as an early indicator of anastomotic leak, the utility of preoperative CRP as a potential predictor of anastomotic leak and postoperative complications after elective colorectal surgery remains to be established.
Do preoperative C-reactive protein levels predict anastomotic leaks and other complications in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery?
Population
7147 patients across 23 studies undergoing elective colorectal surgery
Comparison
Patients with vs without postoperative complications and anastomotic leak
Design
Systematic review and inverse variance random-effects meta-analysis
Authors
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Preoperative CRP may stratify infective complication risk after colorectal surgery; leaves open its utility for anastomotic leak prediction.
Meta-Analysis (n=7,147)
Do preoperative C-reactive protein levels predict anastomotic leaks and other complications in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery?
Mean Difference: 8 (95% CI 3.77–12.23)
p-value: p=<0.01
Higher preoperative CRP levels are associated with increased rates of overall infective complications, but not with anastomotic leak alone, in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.
McKechnie et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in Elective colorectal surgery (n=7,147). Preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels vs. Patients without complications was evaluated on Postoperative infective complications (MD 8.0, 95% CI 3.77-12.23, p=<0.01). Higher preoperative CRP levels were associated with postoperative infective complications (MD 8.0; 95% CI 3.77-12.23; p<0.01), but not with anastomotic leak or overall morbidity.
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