Comparison of Preoperative and Postoperative Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Mortality in Neonates with Intestinal Atresia

Objective Congenital intestinal atresia is one of the most common surgical pathologies in the neonatal period. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of preoperative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and postoperative NLR in predicting early mortality in neonates with intestinal atresia.

Methods The data of 38 newborns with intestinal atresia operated on in our hospital between January 2016 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients' gestational age, gender, birth weight, other congenital anomalies, operative findings, length of hospital stay, sepsis, and mortality rates were recorded. NLR was calculated by analyzing preoperative and postoperative day 1 complete blood tests.

Results Of the patients included in the study, 60.5% were male and 39.5% were female. The median birth weight was 2,468 g (600–3,800 g), and the median gestational age was 36 weeks (28–40 weeks). Gender, number of areas of atresia in the gut, and development of sepsis were not associated with mortality. Mortality was observed at a lower rate in duodenal atresia when compared with the other types of atresia (p < 0.05). The mortality was higher in patients with prematurity, low birth weight, long duration of mechanical ventilation, and severe congenital anomalies (p < 0.05). Preoperative lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were not found to be predictive of mortality. The mortality rate increased as the postoperative lymphocyte count decreased and as the neutrophil count increased (p < 0.05). The preoperative and postoperative NLR was not useful in predicting mortality, the development of sepsis, or the need for reoperation.

Conclusion It is possible to predict early mortality in newborns with intestinal atresia who underwent surgery with neutrophil and lymphocyte counts on the first day after surgery. However, early NLR is not useful in predicting prognosis after surgery in newborns.