Procalcitonin was more accurate than C-reactive protein and WBC to predict early postoperative infection, but the diagnostic properties of procalcitonin could not be observed during the first 3 postoperative days due to the inflammatory process related to cardiopulmonary bypass. The dynamic change of procalcitonin is more important than the absolute value to predict postoperative infection. The maintenance of a high level (procalcitonin > 1.0 ng/mL) within 7 days after surgery and/or a second increase in procalcitonin between the fourth and the seventh postoperative day could be used as an indicator of postoperative infection. Continuous procalcitonin monitoring might help to discover infection earlier.

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