ABSTRACT 105

ARE THERE GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING VALVE SURGERY

Peter L. Birnbaum MD, MSc, FRCSC,  Robert Poirier MD, FACS, Robert Stewart MD, FACS, Sathaporn Vathayanon MD, FACS, Teresa Amaral MPH, Frank Piontek MA, Brad Virchis BS, Jean Ericsen RN.  Department of Cardiac Surgery, St. Agnes Medical Center, Fresno, California

In order to examine the gender issue for  patients undergoing valve surgery we reviewed our data from 1993 -1999.  354 isolated valve operations were performed.  294 single valves,  26 double valves and 51 valve repairs.  189 (54%) men and 165 (46%) women.  The mean age of the women was 66.9 years and men 65.9 years.   The mean body surface area of the women was 1.73 m² and men 1.96 m² (p<0.05).  The following preoperative risk factors were greater in men vs. women:  smokers (47.62% men, 21.21% women, p<0.05) and COPD (24.34% men, 10.91% women, p<0.05).  However preoperative CHF was more prevalent in women (77.58% vs. 65.61%, p<0.05).    A greater proportion of men required AVR as compared to women (70.37% men,  54.55% women, p<0.05).  This trend was reversed for MVR (24.60% men, 41.82%.women, p<0.05).  Post operative morbidity  including stroke, bleeding and MI showed no gender differences.  Operative mortality also showed no gender differences (women 4.7%, men 5.6% p=N.S). 

CONCLUSIONS:  In today’s era of cardiac surgery, gender  issues have become important.   However, in patients undergoing isolated valve surgery, gender does not influence outcome.