SEx-specific Differences in Cardiac Surgery Patients (SECS). A Retrospective Registration and Evaluation of Characteristics and Perioperative Management of Cardiac Surgery Patients

There are now an increasing number of studies on preoperative cardiovascular differences in females and males, but no study to date has focused on a female-specific approach to perioperative anaesthesia and critical care in cardiac surgery patients.

Given the higher mortality and morbidity in females after cardiac surgery, as well as the abovementioned sex differences, it is likely that females require different perioperative care than males, for better and faster recovery.

The investigators hypothesise that females require different perioperative care (pathways) compared to males when undergoing cardiac surgery. The investigators would therefore like to investigate which factors are different in female and male patients, by setting up a database of perioperative parameters. By identifying the factors that adversely affect morbidity and mortality in females and linking these parameters, the investigators would like to improve outcome in fmales after cardiac surgery.