Gender Difference And Quality Of Recovery After General Anaesthesia

BACKGROUND: The influence of gender on post operative complications following anaesthesia has been of interest. The incidence of the various complications among gender may vary due to the differing hormonal and psychological makeup. This was our interest in this study.METHOD: We studied 380 adult patients ASA 1 and ASA 2 undergoing elective inpatient surgery. Post operative complications were assessed from the recovery room until the third day after surgery. Data were analysed using paired student t test. Associations were described using risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The results showed that women were more likely to have postoperative nausea and vomiting while being slower to return to baseline health status.CONCLUSION: We conclude that though women have a poorer quality of recovery than men following general anaesthesia.