title: D-dimer levels in the prediction of the degree of intestinal necrosis of etrangulated hernias in rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Gulhane School of Medicine (GMMA), Etlik, 06018 Ankara, Turkey. nzeybek@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nazif
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zeybek
authors.forename: Fahrettin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kenar
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peker
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Turker
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tufan
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products