Haran C, Gimpel D, Clark H, et al. - Given that inflammatory markers, such as neutrophils and lymphocytes, for risk stratification of postoperative morbidity as well as death in patients experiencing cardiovascular disease may afford benefit for patient selection for cardiac surgery, so, researchers examined the link between preoperative neutrophil to leucocyte ratio (NLR) following cardiac surgery, via this retrospective analysis. Receiver operator curve returned a cut-off value of NLR equal to or greater than 3.23 (high NLR) to be related to greatest mortality. Higher postoperative as well as discharge creatinine, longer ICU stay, prolonged intubation and ventilation, new neurological status and raised risk of returning to theatre, all were reported in correlation with high NLR. A link was found between high NLR and increased mortality following logistic regression. So, it was concluded that in settings wherein postoperative cardiac surgery risks have to be considered, further risk stratification data can be afforded to the surgeon through the interpretation as well as utilisation of easily available haematological markers.