Comparison of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, white blood cell and body temperature in the diagnosis of ventriculostomy-associated infection

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of neurosurgical procedures on procalcitonin levels and the role of procalcitonin in distinguishing the inflammatory reaction due to surgery and postoperative infection. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 27 patients with hydrocephalus. Among these patients, 10 patients had ventricular drainage while 17 had ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The changes in the values of procalcitonin, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and body temperature were examined in the preoperative 1st and during postoperative 7 days. Results: All the patients had statistically significant increase in the body temperature values of the postoperative 1st day compared to preoperative values. C-reactive protein peaked in the postoperative 2nd day and, after that, followed a regular kinetic to show a decrease pattern. C-reactive protein was found to be 3 times higher in the postoperative 5th day compared to the preoperative value. Procalcitonin was found to remain in normal limits in all the patients that did not develop infection while the same was observed to increase in patients with infection. Conclusion: Procalcitonin will be a serious and safer parameter for the follow-up of the systemic complications following surgery upon the conclusions obtained with studies that include a higher number of patients and varying types of operations.