Sex differences in speed of emergence and quality of recovery after anaesthesia: cohort study

Recent evidence shows that postoperative recovery may differ between men and women. 1 2 We planned a prospective cohort study to examine the impact of gender on postoperative outcome. This was associated with a trial investigating the effectiveness of several anaesthetic regimens.3 After obtaining ethics committee approval and informed consent, we studied 463 adult patients undergoing elective inpatient surgery. An observer experienced in postoperative review followed up all patients daily until the third postoperative day. The primary end point was quality of recovery, as measured by a quality of recovery score consisting of nine (range 0-18) items.4 Secondary end points included recovery times and the incidence of complications (postoperative nausea and vomiting, headache, backache, and sore throat). Data were analysed using t tests or generalised linear models (to adjust for the covariates of patients' age, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, and extent and …