Correlation Between Preoperative Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio and Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the preferred treatment for large renal calculi, but febrile urinary tract infections (fUTI) remain a common postoperative complication, leading to increased morbidity. Identifying reliable preoperative predictors such as the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could improve patient outcomes by facilitating risk stratification. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between preoperative NLR and the prevalence of fUTI in PCNL patients. Methods: An observational study was done on 100 patients undergoing PCNL at GMERS Medical College, Junagadh, Gujarat. Demographics, clinical data, and preoperative NLR values were recorded. Patients were monitored for fUTI within 30 days postoperatively. Statistical analysis, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, was performed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Participants had a mean stone size of 25.7 mm, were 45.3 years old on average, and were 60% male. Of the patients, 20% developed fUTI. The fUTI group had a substantially greater mean preoperative NLR (5.8 ± 1.2) than the non-fUTI group (3.1 ± 0.8) (p < 0.001). The independent prediction of fUTI by NLR was validated using logistic regression. Conclusion: In PCNL patients, elevated preoperative NLR is highly correlated with an increased risk of fUTI., making it a valuable marker for risk stratification. Recommendations: Routine preoperative NLR assessment is recommended to identify high-risk patients and implement tailored perioperative interventions to reduce fUTI incidence. Standardized NLR levels and validation of these results require more investigation.