Relation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with epidural analgesia timing and thoracotomy pain.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship of the pre-operative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to the timing of epidural analgesia administration and post-operative acute and chronic pain in thoracotomy.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 60 patients, with NLR ≥ 2 (Group A) and NLR < 2 (Group B). Each group was divided into subgroups pre-emptive analgesia (Group P) and control group (Group C). Epidural analgesic solution was administered as a bolus before the surgical incision in Group P and at the end of the operation in Group C. NRS was questioned postoperatively at the 2^nd, 4^th, 8^th, 12^th, 24^th h, 1^st, and 3^rd months and also additional analgesic needs were recorded.

Results: In Group A, the pain scores of the patients who received pre-emptive epidural analgesia were lower at the post-operative 2^nd, 4^th, and 8^th h and analgesic consumption was less in the post-operative first 24 h.

Conclusion: It was observed that pre-emptive epidural analgesia reduced pain levels and additional analgesic consumption in the acute post-operative period in patients with pre-operative NLR ≥ 2.