Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Patients developing VAP have higher mortality rates and longer ICU stays. Various markers have been for prognosis in patients who develop VAP. We studied serial estimation of procalcitonin (PCT) levels in VAP as a prognostic marker.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
To calculate incidence of VAP per 1000 ventilator days and assess role of PCT as a prognostic marker in VAP.
MATERIAL & METHODS
All consecutive patients intubated in the ICUs were assessed for development of VAP using CPIS score. In patients who developed VAP during the study period, there serum PCT levels were collected on day 0, 3 and 7 of developing VAP.
RESULTS
We studied 351 patients, 25 developed VAP. Incidence of VAP was 6.33 / 1000 ventilated days. (Incidence/1000 ventilator days= No. Of VAP cases/ Total ventilator days C 1000).Patients having higher initial levels & in whom the levels decreased subsequently showed better survival as compared to low initial values and a marginal fall/rise in subsequently values. Mean value of PCT in survivor group on 0,3 & 7 days were 45.47, 21.01 and 7.26 respectively (standard error of mean of 34.71, 15.28 & 4.95) while the levels in non-survivor group were 1.94, 2.11 & 1.99 respectively (standard error of mean of 0.72, 0.80 & 1.25). The PCT levels remained low/steady on serial monitoring in the non survivor.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study further re-enforces the role of serial estimation of PCT as a prognostic marker in patients with VAP. Though further studies with larger number of patients is required to make its estimation as a standard protocol.
- © 2012 ERS