The Significance of Interleukin-6 in the Early Detection of Surgical Site Infections after Definitive Operation for Gastrointestinal Fistulae

Abstract Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most common complications after definitive treatment for intestinal fistulae. Serum inflammatory markers including white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as procalcitonin (PCT) have been used to help diagnosis post-operative complications. Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the clinical value of inflammatory markers, specifically IL-6, in predicting SSIs after intestinal fistulae resection. Methods: A total of 184 consecutive patients who underwent elective intestinal fistula resection were enrolled prospectively. All patients were screened to exclude patients with existing clinical infection. Plasma IL-6 concentrations, serum PCT, and CRP concentrations were measured pre-operatively and on post-operative days one, three, and seven. The predictive value of each laboratory marker for SSI was calculated. Results: The incidence of SSI after elective intestinal fistula resection was 2...