Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are widely accepted indices positively correlated with disease severity, progression, and mortality. In this study, we tested whether NLR and PLR could predict mortality and length of hospital stay (LOS) after cardiac surgery. Methods: NLR and PLR were calculated on days 0, 3, 5, and 7 postoperatively. A ROC curve was generated to assess their prognostic value; multivariate logistic analysis identified independent risk factors for 90-day mortality. Results: Analysis was performed on 179 patients’ data, 11 of whom (6.15%) died within 90 days. The discriminatory performance for predicting 90-day mortality was better for NLR7 (AUC = 0.925, 95% CI:0.865–0.984) with the optimal cut-off point being 7.10. NLR5 and PLR3 also exhibited a significant strong discriminative performance. Similarly, a significant discriminative performance was prominent for PLR3, NLR5, and NLR7 with respect to LOS. Moreover, NLR7 (OR: 2.143, 95% CI: 1.076–4.267, p = 0.030) and ICU LOS (OR:1.361, 95% CI: 1.045–1.774, p = 0.022) were significant independent risk factors for 90-day mortality. Conclusions: NLR and PLR are efficient predictive factors for 90-day mortality and LOS in cardiac surgery patients. Owing to the simplicity of determining NLR and PLR, their postoperative monitoring may offer a reliable predictor of patients’ outcomes in terms of LOS and mortality.

We retrospectively reviewed our series of 76 patients who underwent esophagectomy, with curative intent, for esophageal carcinoma over the last 10 years. The mean age was 60 years ranging between 46 to 76 years. Fifty-seven patients had a squamous cell carcinoma and 19 patients had an adenocarcinoma. In 15 cases induction therapy was accomplished prior to surgery. A narrow gastric tube was used to restore continuity in 74 patients (97.3%). Medical records were reviewed and data analysis was performed. Peri-operative mortality was 2.6%. Overall survival at 1, 3 and 5 years was 85,5%, 67,7% and 52,7%, respectively, with no significant difference between the squamous cell disease group and the adenocarcinoma group. Although T factor and stage at the time of surgery influenced overall survival, the presence of nodal metastasis had the major impact on survival as confirmed by univariate and multivariate analysis with a 5 year survival rate of 32% regardless of the use or not of adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and the pathologic stage. Esophagectomy still represents a valid treatment for esophageal carcinoma in well selected patients. Both pT stage and N stage appear to be the most important factors determining survival for patients with completely resected esophageal carcinoma.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair with the MitraClip device has become an established therapeutic option for the treatment of symptomatic patients with mitral regurgitation and prohibitive surgical risk. Despite its safe profile when performed in experienced centers, complications such as MitraClip device detachment or migration into the left atrium can occur and pose a significant risk. We report a MitraClip device migration into the left atrium short after its placement in a patient with symptomatic mitral valve regurgitation and a history of previous coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement.