Clinical Utility of Peri-Operative C-Reactive Protein Testing in General Surgery

Abstract

CRP requesting pre-operatively is common, but is not recommended in NICE guidelines. Postoperatively, CRP levels rise; as a result, its use as a tool to screen for infection is limited. CRP has a role in diagnosis of infection after the first three postoperative days and in monitoring response to treatment. Therefore, routine use of CRP measurements pre-operatively and in the first 2 or 3 days post-operatively is not recommended. A peri-operative CRP should only be requested if there is a clear clinical indication.