Association between preoperative serum C-reactive protein level and leukocyte count and postoperative pain after otolaryngological surgery

Objectives To determine whether the preoperative inflammatory serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte count (LEUK) are associated with postoperative pain and complaints after otolaryngological surgery

Methods Retrospective evaluation of 680 patients (33 %  female, median age 50 years) receiving otolaryngological surgery between November 2008 and March 2017 in a tertiary university hospital. Postoperative pain on the first postoperative day was assessed using the validated questionnaire of the German-wide project Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Treatment (QUIPS) including a numeric rating scale for assessment of postoperative pain (NRS, 0-10). The influence of preoperative parameters including CRP and LEUK on patients' postoperative pain was estimated.

Results Mean CRP value was 15.6±34.6 mg/l and mean LEUK value 7.8±3.2 Gpt/l. Patients with pharyngeal surgery had the highest CRP values (34.6±52.9 mg/l), highest LEUK values (9.2±4.2 Gpt/l) and the highest pain levels (3.1±2.4 NRS) compared to all other surgical procedures (all p <  0.05). Higher postoperative pain was associated with LEUK values >11.3 Gpt/l (r=0.093, p=0.016) and higher preoperative chronic pain (r=0.127, p=0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed higher LEUK values >11.3 Gpt/l (beta=0.644; CI=0.094 to1.194; p=0.022) and preoperative chronic pain (beta=0.176; CI =0.102 to 0.251; p=0.0001) as independent factors for postoperative pain. Perioperative antibiotics had no effect on the postoperative pain.

Discussion : Beyond known factors, preoperative LEUK as inflammation marker is an independent predictor for pain on the first postoperative day.

Poster-PDF A-1117.pdf

Conflict of interest

Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenskonflikt an.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
13. Mai 2021