The Correlation between Serum Selenium Concentration and Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Paediatric Patients following Major Gastrointestinal Surgeries: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Introduction: Acute-phase inflammatory and oxidative response following major gastrointestinal surgeries may lead to critical conditions in pediatric patients. Selenium plays a key role in the antioxidant defense system and anti-inflammatory pathways, which are important in the clinical outcomes of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The present study aimed to assess the possible correlations between serum selenium levels and clinical outcomes in PICU patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgeries.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۶۶ critically ill pediatric patients who were in the postoperative stage of major gastrointestinal surgeries. Serum selenium concentration was assessed using the atomic absorption method, and the clinical outcomes were collected prospectively.Results: Serum selenium concentration upon PICU admission was ۳۸.۹±۹.۸ ng/ml, and no significant correlation was observed between the serum selenium level and the nutritional status of the patients. Furthermore, no significant associations were denoted between the serum selenium concentration and some clinical outcomes, such as the duration of ventilator dependency, PICU length of stay, and PICU/۲۸-day mortality. However, the statistical analysis of the obtained data showed negative, significant associations between the serum selenium concentration, infection rate, and length of hospital stay (P= ۰.۰۱ and P=۰.۰۴, respectively).Conclusion: According to the results, serum selenium concentration decreased in the post-gastrointestinal-surgery patients admitted to the PICU upon PICU admission, and the reduction was associated with prolonged hospitalization and a higher infection rate.