A preliminary study: the role of preoperative procalcitonin in predicting postoperative fever after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with a negative baseline urine culture

To evaluate the role of preoperative procalcitonin (PCT) levels in predicting postoperative fever after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-PCNL) in patients with a negative baseline urine culture. Between January 2014 and October 2017, 329 patients with a negative baseline urine culture and who underwent mini-PCNL were enrolled in this study. Patients were stratified into the control or febrile group based on a body temperature either less than or greater than 38 °C, respectively. Demographic and perioperative data were compared between the groups, and variables found to be statistically significant were included in a binary logistic regression analysis. A total of 68 (20.6%) patients experienced postoperative fever. The univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between groups in preoperative fever (p = 0.032), stone burden (p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (p = 0.011), PCT (p < 0.001) and interleukin-6 (p = 0.035) levels. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that stone burden > 353 mm³ (p = 0.003) and PCT > 0.05 ng/mL (p < 0.001) are independent risk factors for postoperative fever in mini-PCNL-treated patients with a negative baseline urine culture. We concluded that patients with stone burden > 353 mm³ or PCT > 0.05 ng/mL were more likely to develop postoperative fever after mini-PCNL, though with a negative baseline urine culture.