Cardiac surgery and women.

Coronary heart disease is just as serious a problem for women as it is for men, yet historically women have been significantly underrepresented in research studies related to the disease and treatment options, including cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery is a proven therapy for the management of coronary heart disease in women. Research addressing the physical, psychosocial, and emotional issues women face during the preoperative, postoperative, and recovery phases of surgery is limited. Nurses play a pivotal role in the education and management of women undergoing cardiac surgery and need to be aware of unique issues related to the experience. This article reviews the literature pertaining to women's issues during the perioperative and recovery phases of cardiac surgery.