Acute phase reactants in pediatric surgery

Abstract

Introduction: The non specific acute phase response is poorly characterized in children undergoing not complicated, elective surgery.

Objectives: to evaluate the kinetic of acute phase reactants in children after elective surgery according to surgical stress score and age.

Method: Prospective study of infants, preschool and school-age children who underwent programmed surgery. C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, pre-albumin and glycemia were evaluated on preoperative and postoperative hours 6 to 12, 48 and fourth day. The children were grouped by level of surgical stress according to surgical stress score values.

Results: 40 children were studied, 20 of which were boys, 4.4 years-old (range 3 months to 16 years). 25 belonged to mild stress level and 15 to moderate group. The kinetic of the metabolic parameters by stress group (ANOVA repeated measures) did not show significant differences. Analyzing the data in different measured times (Student t test), there was a significant increase in CRP and a decrease in pre-albumin and albumin in the group of higher stress level. lycemia did not show significative differences in the total group at any of the analyzed periods.

Conclusions: The evolution of acute phase reactants in children subjected to programmed surgery without complications did not differ significantly from other age groups and is independent of surgical stress level scores.