Effect of gender on fast-track recovery after coronary artery bypass graftsurgery

Objective: To examine the effects of gender on time to extubation after cor onary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and intensive care unit and hospit al length of stay. Design: Retrospective study comparing outcomes as related to gender. Setting: Tertiary care university teaching hospital. Participants: Consecutive patients (n = 561; 376 men, 185 women) undergoing CABG surgery between January 1995 and December 1997. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Early extubation was possible in 74% of men versus 64% of women (p = 0.03); length of stay was less than or equal to5 d ays in 60% of men versus 48% of women (p = 0.008); overall postoperative le ngth of stay was 5.7 days for men versus 6.5 days for women (p = 0.003); mo rbidity and mortality were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: Women undergoing CABG surgery with a standardized fast-track pr otocol have longer intubation times, intensive care unit length of stay, an d hospital length of stay than their male counterparts. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.