Procalcitonin as predictor of bowel injury in penetrating abdominal injury

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis of bowel injury may be considered one of the difficulties in penetrating abdominal trauma. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to estimate the predictive ability of procalcitonin in diagnosing bowel injury in multiply injured patients. Patient and Methods: In a cross-sectional study at the Emergency Department of Al-Kindy teaching hospital over 1 year, patients were had penetrating abdominal trauma, and measurement of procalcitonin to all participants to estimate its predictive ability. Results: Procalcitonin was found to be a single independent predictor of bowel perforation with sensitivity of 90.3%, specificity of 80.6%, and cutoff point of 4.5 ng/ml. Conclusion: Procalcitonin level of more than 4.5 ng/ml in cases of penetrating abdominal injury may be considered an aiding predictor for bowel perforation, thus shifting the treatment toward surgical intervention.