Perioperative Outcomes for Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Differences Between Men and Women

In a single institution review comparing acute outcomes for men and women after surgery for non-small cell lung cancer, men were found to have an increased risk of postoperative cardiac complications, whereas women were found to have an increased incidence of 30-day readmission, the latter despite similar frequency of postoperative emergency department visits and presenting symptoms.  Reasons for the higher readmission rate for women are ascribed to a variety of possible causes, but gender bias perhaps also should be considered as a possible explanation.