CRP post oesophagectomy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
C-reactive protein as a predictor of postoperative infective complications following elective upper GI surgery for oesophageal and gastric cancer.
IRAS ID
224988
Contact name
Kathryn Puxty
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greter Glasgow and Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Upper GI surgery is associated with high rates of post-operative complications including anastamotic leak, wound infections, and post-operative pneumonia. C reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant which is found in the blood in response to inflammation. CRP is routinely measured in the post-operative period after oesophagectomy and gastrectomy and while it is raised following surgery it would be expected to fall after a couple of days. An elevated post-operative CRP has been associated with post-operative infective complications in patients undergoing colorectal surgery with day 3 value >170 and day 4 value >145 being proposed as cut-off levels.
Oesophagectomy and gastrectomy patients undergo major surgery and routinely spend between five and seven days in critical care where CRP measurement is made daily. We propose identifying those patients that have had an admission to critical care following oesophagectomy over a five year period and analyzing trends in CRP during their post-operative stay. Identification of a CRP cut-of that excludes post-operative infectious complications at day four would allow early step down of these patients and prompt investigation of those who have a higher value.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0417
Date of REC Opinion
16 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion