Post-operative serum procalcitonin vs C reactive Protein as a marker of post-operative infectious complications in pancreatic surgery – A systemic review and meta-analysis

Aim of Study Aim of this meta-analysis was to compare diagnostic accuracy of C reactive Protein and Procalcitonin between postoperative day 3 to 5 in predicting infectious complications post pancreatic surgery. Methods Systemic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCOPUS to identify studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) as a predictor for detecting infectious complications between postoperative days (POD) 3 to 5 following pancreatic surgery. A meta-analysis was performed using random effect model and pooled predictive parameters. Geometric means were calculated for PCT cut offs. The work has been reported in line with PRISMA guidelines. Results After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria 15 studies consisting of 2212 patients were included in the final analysis according to PRISMA guidelines. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, Area under curve and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR)for day 3 C-reactive protein was respectively 62%,67% 0.772 and 6.54. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, Area under curve and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR)for day 3 procalcitonin was respectively 74%,79%,0.8453 and 11.03. Sensitivity, specificity, Area under curve, and Diagnostic odds ratio for day 4 C-reactive protein was respectively 60%,68%, 0.8022 and 11.90. Pooled Sensitivity, specificity and Diagnostic odds ratio of post-operative day 5 procalcitonin level in predicting infectious complications were respectively 83%,70% and 12.9. Pooled Sensitivity, specificity, AUROC and diagnostic odds ratio were respectively 50%,70%, 0.777 and 10.19. Conclusion Post-operative procalcitonin is better marker to predict post-operative infectious complications after pancreatic surgeries and post-operative day 3 procalcitonin has highest diagnostic accuracy.