Comparation of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) level between pre- and post-surgery and its associated determinants in patients with microscopic otorhinolaryngology surgeries

Introduction: Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) is expected could be used as predictor of tissue hypoperfusion. This study sought to compare the level of I-FABP between pre- and post-surgery and its associated determinants in patients with otorhinolaryngology surgeries using general anesthesia with controlled hypotension (CH) technique.
Methods: We did a cross-sectional study was conducted among patients that underwent elective surgeries at Dr. Soetomo in Surabaya, Indonesia. Those who underwent surgeries using general anesthesia with CH technique were recruited in the study. I-FABP levels were measured using ELISA 1 hour before the surgery and 30 minutes after general anesthesia ended. Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test were used to determine the determinants associated with changes of I-FABP level between pre- and post-surgery.
Results: A total of 31 patients who underwent the surgeries with general anesthesia and CH technique were included in this study. The median of I-FABP level pre- and post-surgery was 0.639 ng/mL to 0.779 ng/mL, respectively suggesting there was a significant increase of I-FABP level after the CH technique (p<0.001). Gender and ASA score did not associate with I-FABP level changes pre- and post-surgery with p=0.333 and 0.060, respectively. Age, BMI did not associate with changes of I-FABP level between pre- and post-surgery (p=0.747 and p=0.051, respectively). Surgery duration, anesthesia duration, systolic, diastolic and MAP all also had no association with changes of the I-FABP level with p>0.05.
Conclusion: The levels of I-FABP increased significantly in post-surgery in patients with otorhinolaryngology surgeries using general anesthesia with CH. Further studies are warranted to confirm this result with bigger sample size.