Predictors of infection after pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

The increase in procalcitonin and interleukin-6 may allow patients at increased risk of infection after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) to be identified, allowing earlier institution of antibiotic treatment. These changes occur before infection can be detected clinically.

This finding may make the daily monitoring of procalcitonin in high-risk cardiosurgical patients useful.

Keywords

• Cardiopulmonary bypass
• Infection
• Inflammatory mediators
• Procalcitonin
• Surgery – complications