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Background: Although reports suggest that pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) may be more frequent in women, the evidence is inconsistent. The objective of this study was to investigate whether women are more sensitive to pain and PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: A total of 370 women and 275 men were included in a retrospective cohort study. All underwent LC under standardized general anesthesia. The variables analyzed included clinical and anthropometric parameters. End points were the incidence of nausea, vomiting, pain, and the requirement for additional pain relievers and antiemetics to control these. Results: The women were younger and had lower body weight than the men (p < 0.001). Body mass index was within the normal range for 50% of women and 30% of men (p < 0.001). Pain was more common in women at 1, 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery (p < 0.02). Narcotics in addition to the doses used to lessen pain intensity (p = 0.01) were required in 60 women and 19 men (p < 0.001). PONV was more frequent in women at 1 and 6 h after surgery (p < 0.01). Rescue antiemetics were required in 35 women and 11 men (p = 0.008). Hospital stay was shorter for men (p < 0.001). Four patients in each group developed postoperative complications (p = 0.14). There was no mortality. Conclusions: Early postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting after LC were more common in women, who more frequently required analgesic and antiemetic rescue medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Analysis of ascitic fluid is necessary to determine the etiology and to distinguish portal hypertension (PH)‐related and unrelated ascites. Numerous diagnostic parameters have been studied, but no single parameter has completely distinguished these. We aimed to validate the serum albumin–ascites gradient (SAAG) for the diagnosis of ascites secondary to PH and to establish cutoff points to predict PH using its sensitivity and specificity. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study conducted on patients diagnosed with ascites of any etiology. The SAAG and albumin concentration in ascitic fluid (AFA) were measured to establish their sensitivity and specificity for determining the presence or absence of PH. Cutoff points and levels of statistical significance were established based on the area under the curve. Results: Eighty‐seven patients were evaluated, of whom 74 (84%) were men, with an average age of 54.0 ± 13.6 years. Seventy‐two (83%) were diagnosed at admission with PH‐related ascites and 15 (17%) with non‐PH‐related ascites. SAAG correctly classified 48 (67%) patients, but 24 (33%) were classified incorrectly, while AFA classified 59 (82%) correctly and only 13 (17%) incorrectly. The diagnostic accuracy of SAAG was 57 versus 73% for AFA. AFA had a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 66% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63–0.93), while SAAG had a sensitivity of 66% but a specificity of 86% (95% CI: 0.72–0.95). Conclusions: The SAAG showed poor diagnostic performance with low sensitivity but high specificity. The diagnostic accuracy of AFA is superior to that of SAAG in discriminating between PH and non‐PH ascites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]