Systemic Inflammatory Cytokines Predict the Infectious Complications but Not Prolonged Postoperative Ileus after Colorectal Surgery

Figure 1. (a) and (b). IL-6 ratio in normal recoveries (non-PPOI) versus PPOI patients, every single dot represents a patient, the line indicates the median, and there are no significant differences.

Figure 2. The leucocyte count and CRP and VAS scores in non-PPOI patients versus PPOI. In panels (a) and (b), bars represent the mean and error bars the SD. There are no significant differences. Panel (c) presents the VAS (visual analogue scale for pain) score, from postoperative day 1 up to postoperative day 6. Panel (d) presents patients with or without PPOI and the time in days of being ready for discharge. Patients with PPOI had a significantly longer hospital stay p < 0.001.

Figure 3. Comparison of IL-6, leucocyte count, and CRP between the patient group with infectious complication(s) (SSI, AL, pneumonia, UWI) and without infectious complication or with or without SSI (surgical site infection) or with or without CAL (colorectal anastomotic leakage). Panel (a) shows that all IL6 ratios are significant higher on both time points between all three groups; the infectious group POD 1 p < 0.001 and POD 3 p = 0.001, SSI; POD 1 p = 0.001 and POD 3 p = 0.017, CAL; POD 1 p = 0.027 and POD 3 p = 0.050. (b) On POD 1 and POD 3, the CRP levels were significantly higher in the infectious complication groups (POD 1 p = 0.009, POD 3 p = 0.008). In the SSI groups, CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with SSI compared to patients without SSI on POD 1, p < 0.001. Also in the groups with CAL had higher numbers of CRP though not significant. (c) Although the leucocyte count is higher in the infectious and CAL groups, there were no significant differences. Bars represent the mean, error bars, and the SD; p values are indicated with an asterisk; ∗ p value ≤ 0.05, ∗∗ p value ≤ 0.001.

Figure 4. ROC analysis showed CRP and IL-6 ratio on POD 1 (a) and POD 3 (b), on both days; the AUC was higher in IL-6 ratio.