Neutrophil to C-reactive protein ratio: An estimating factor for intestinal ischemia before the surgery of incarcerated inguinal hernia

OBJECTIVE: An inguinal hernia may transform to an incarcerated hernia, which would require emergency surgery with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aims to analyze whether it is possible to predict intestinal ischemia in incarcerated hernia using complete blood count parameters and serum C-reactive protein (CRP). METHODS: Medical records of 129 patients were used to analyze whether there is a correlation between intestinal ischemia and laboratory parameters. Receiver operating characteristics analysis and Youden index were used to determine cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: Female patients, those with a femoral type hernia, and patients with additional diseases were found to be more prone to bowel resection. CRP, lymphocyte to CRP ratio (LCR), and neutrophil to CRP ratio (NCR) parameters were significant (AUC=0.914, p<0.001; AUC=0.901, p<0.001; and AUC=0.908, p<0.001, respectively). A value <0.45 for NCR has a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 87.8%; a value >19 in CRP has a 90% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity. CONCLUSION: Decreased pre-operative NCR and LCR, and increased CRP levels can be used as a predictor for estimating intestinal ischemia.