Blood count and C-reactive protein evolution in gastric cancer patients with total gastrectomy surgery

BACKGROUND: The complete blood count (CBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are useful inflammatory parameters for ruling out acute postoperative inflammatory complications. AIM: To determine their changes in gastric cancer patients submitted to total gastrectomy. METHODS: This is a prospective study, with 36 patients with gastric cancer who were submitted to elective total gastrectomy. On the first, third and fifth postoperative day (POD), blood count and CRP changes were assessed. Patients with postoperative complications were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty-one (58%) were men and 15 (42%) women. The mean age was 65 years. The leukocytes peaked on the 1(st) POD with a mean of 13,826 u/mm³, and decreased to 8,266 u/mm³ by the 5(th) POD. The bacilliforms peaked on the 1(st) POD with a maximum value of 1.48%. CRP reached its maximum level on the 3(rd) POD with a mean of 144.64 mg/l±44.84. Preoperative hematocrit (HCT) was 35% and 33.67% by the 5(th) POD. Hemoglobin, showed similar values. CONCLUSIONS: Leukocytes increased during the 1(st) POD but reached normal values by the 5(th) POD. CRP peaked on the 3(rd) POD but did not reach normal values by the 5(th) POD.