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C-reactive protein levels following standard neurosurgical procedures
1Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden. johan.bengzon@neurokir.lu.se
Background:
The aim of the present study was to establish the magnitude and time-course of C-reactive protein increases following routine neurosurgical procedures in the absence of clinical and laboratory signs of infection.
Method:
C-reactive protein levels were studied daily following ventriculo-peritoneal shunt implantation, anterior cervical fusion, vestibular schwannoma operation, supratentorial glioma surgery, endovascular intracranial aneurysm treatment and open cerebral aneurysm surgery.
Findings:
The magnitude of the C-reactive protein increase depended on the extent of surgical trauma and peak-levels were recorded between postoperative day one and four after which the levels tapered off.
Interpretation:
Increases occurring after the fourth postoperative day are likely to be caused by complications of surgery, e.g. infection.
