Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a mortality predictor for Norwood stage I operations

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a lethal congenital heart malformation when untreated resulting in a 95% mortality in the first month of life. In this study, we aimed to investigate the newly introduced inflammatory biomarker, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, as a mortality predictor in postoperative hypoplastic left heart syndrome patients.

Patients were divided into two groups; Group 1 consisted of 33 patients who were discharged and Group 2 including 20 patients who were deceased following surgery. Patients' preoperative demographic characteristics, total white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive proteins, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, urea, and creatinine levels were recorded. Studys' primary endpoint was all-cause patient mortality following surgery.

The preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was found to be significantly different between the groups (p = 0.001). High neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was found to be associated with an increased risk of death. The ROC curves of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were found to be associated with mortality. The area under curve for the preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was 0.74. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 65%.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio can contribute to the early identification of patients at high risk for complications. In addition, through the use of NLR, clinicians could implement measures for the optimal therapeutic approach of cardiac surgery patients and the elimination of adverse patient outcomes.