The influence of gender on outcome following peripheral vascular surgery: a review

There is considerable evidence that outcome following intervention for coro nary artery disease in women may be worse than it is for men, The influence of gender on outcome following peripheral vascular surgery has received le ss attention and is the subject of this review. The incidence of most vascu lar procedures in women is 20-40% that of men. Women appear to have a great er risk of dying following surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm, a higher risk of stroke and death following carotid endarterectomy, and poorer paten cy rates following infrainguinal bypass, The causes may include delayed dia gnosis and referral, increased co-morbidity and possibly the effect of smal ler arteries in women. (C) 2000 The International Society for Cardiovascula r Surgery. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.