The prognostic value of procalcitonin in cardiac surgical patients

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the prognostic value of serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients early after cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We studied whether PCT is useful as an early prognostic marker in cardiosurgical patients with respect to complications and infections and whether PCT is a specific marker for the occurrence of infections.