Crude values and procalcitonin rise had poor diagnostic value for VAP in this particular setting and thus should not be used to initiate antibiotics when VAP is clinically suspected.

Postoperative plasma BNP and cardiac troponin I levels are independent predictors of postoperative cardiac dysfunction after cardiac surgery. Simultaneous measurement of BNP and cardiac troponin I improve the risk assessment of postoperative cardiac dysfunction. However, the association between BNP levels and 1-yr outcome was no longer significant after adjustment on left ventricular ejection fraction.