Do biomarkers have predictive value in the treatment modality of the patients diagnosed with bowel obstruction?

This study aimed to investigate the ability of the biomarkers to predict the surgery treatment and mortality in patients above 18 years of age who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of bowel obstruction from the emergency department.

This is a 2-year retrospective study. The patients' demographic data, laboratory parameters on admission to emergency department, treatment modalities, and the length of hospital stay were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: conservative and surgical treatment. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the value of biomarkers in predicting mortality and the need for surgery. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22.

A total of 179 patients were included in this study. Of these, 105 (58.7%) patients were treated conservative and 74 (41.3%) were treated operatively. The elevated procalcitonin (PCT) level, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen-to-albumin ratio, and lactate-to-albumin ratio were significantly correlated with surgical treatment, length of hospital stay, and mortality. procalcitonin threshold value of 0.13 ng/mL was able to predict the need for surgical treatment, with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 70.3%. Procalcitonin threshold value of 0.65 ng/mL was able to predict the mortality rate of the patients, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 78.1%.

Biomarkers, especially procalcitonin, may be useful in bowel obstruction treatment management and may predict mortality.