D-dimer levels in the prediction of the degree of intestinal necrosis of etrangulated hernias in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the time-dependent relation between plasma D-dimer levels and the degree of intestinal necrosis and to compare these parameters with leukocyte counts in an experimental etrangulated hernia model in rats.


RESULTS
When the duration of intestinal ischemia was prolonged, serum D-dimer levels increased relative to the control group, with the difference being statistically significant at hour 2 (P = 0.027). In contrast, leukocyte counts in the 2- and 4-h strangulation group were higher that those of the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.625 and P = 0.846, respectively). However, in the 6-h strangulation group the levels of leukocytes were significantly higher that those of the control group (P = 0.015).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum D-dimer measurements may be used as a more valuable diagnostic parameter than leukocyte count in the early diagnosis of intestinal ischemia, including strangulated hernia.
Zeybek
Nazif
N
Department of General Surgery, Gulhane School of Medicine (GMMA), Etlik, 06018 Ankara, Turkey. nzeybek@hotmail.com
Yildiz
Fahrettin
F
Kenar
Levent
L
Peker
Yusuf
Y
Kurt
Bülent
B
Cetin
Turker
T
Ide
Tayfun
T
Tufan
Turgut
T
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006547:Hernia / Q000097:blood*; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products