Laboratory tests
Pre-operative systemic inflammatory condition was assessed through serum
CRP within 3 weeks before surgery (Pre-Op CRP). Serum CRP levels in the
post-operative period were routinely measured on POD1-3 and on POD4-5,
based on clinical indication. The concentration of CRP was measured
using a validated immunoturbidimetric assay on a Roche Cobas 8000 (Roche
Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). The analytical characteristics of this
method are as follows: limit of detection, 0.3 mg/L; linearity, 0.3-350
mg/L; intra-assay imprecision, 1.2% to 3.6%; upper limit of the normal
reference range: <5 mg/L