Predictive value of procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein for survival in postoperative patients with severe sepsis.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the performance of procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as percentage of baseline (POB) in predicting hospital survival, we studied 64 consecutive, postoperative patients with severe sepsis.

Materials And Methods: Plasma PCT, IL-6, and CRP were serially measured from day 1 (onset of sepsis) to day 14 in parallel with clinical data until day 28. Multivariate logistic regression and univariate analysis of predictive accuracy of PCT-, IL-6-, and CRP-POB were performed.

Prognosis of a large cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in a single European centre.

Background/aim: Only a few follow up data are available for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Europe and the USA. Therefore, we analysed all HCC patients admitted to our hospital between 1988 and 1999.

Methods: We documented aetiology, stage (HCC: Okuda and UICC classifications, liver cirrhosis: Child-Pugh score), and diagnostic and therapeutic measures of 281 consecutive HCC patients.

Prophylaxis against fat and bone-marrow embolism during total hip arthroplasty reduces the incidence of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis: a controlled, randomized clinical trial.

Background: Clinical and experimental studies have suggested that the maximum risk of thrombogenesis occurs during, rather than after, total hip arthroplasty. With use of conventional cementing techniques, insertion of a femoral component results in marrow embolization of tissue thromboplastin into the veins of the proximal part of the femur, leading to activation of the clotting cascade and thrombogenesis. We hypothesized that an operative technique designed for the prevention of fat and bone-marrow embolism can also reduce the incidence of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.