Unfallchirurgie
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The study presented investigates prospectively the clinical value of the PMN-elastase as a sequel parameter in 954 patients of a surgical intensive care unit. The elastase-values measured discriminate highly significant between patients with and without complications (p < 0.001) as well as between survivors and non-survivors (p < 0.001). Furthermore in patients underlying shock-phases in the course of treatment significantly higher elastase values are measured as in the patients remaining (p < 0.001). The highest prognostic evidence is determined by the elastase at the 9th day of course of disease concerning the prediction of a patient's death (sensitivity 78%, specificity 75%, positive predictive value 63%, respectively negative predictive value 87%).