• Anna Olds, Sameer Hirji, Manuel Castillo-Angeles, Lauren Kane, Jennifer Romano, Cynthia Herrington, and Erika Rangel.
• Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
• Ann. Surg. 2024 May 24.

ObjectiveTo describe the incidence of and risk factors for pregnancy complications in female cardiothoracic surgeons compared to women of similar sociodemographic profiles.Summary Background DataFemale cardiothoracic surgeons often postpone childbearing, but little is known about their pregnancy outcomes.MethodsA self-administered survey was distributed to US cardiothoracic surgeons/trainees in 2023. Surgeons with ≥1 live birth were queried on maternal work hours during pregnancy and major antenatal pregnancy complications. Male surgeons answered on behalf of non-surgeon childbearing partners (female non-surgeons).ResultsThe study included 255 surgeons (63.53% male; 36.47% female). Compared to female surgeons, male surgeons more often had partners who were not employed outside the home (25.64% vs. 13.33%, P<0.001). Female surgeons were older than female non-surgeons at first live birth (34.494.41 vs. 31.454.16, P<0.001), more often worked >60 hours/week during pregnancy (70.33% vs. 14.08%, P<0.001), and more often had pregnancy complications (45.16% vs. 27.16%, P=0.003; OR 1.78, 95%CI:1.01-3.13). Among female surgeons, 18.28% reduced work hours during pregnancy. During their third trimester, 54.84% worked >6 overnight calls/month and 72.04% operated >12 hours/week. Age35yrs (OR 3.28, 95%CI 1.27-8.45) and operating >12 hours/week during the third trimester (OR 3.72, 95%CI 1.04-13.30) were associated with pregnancy complications.ConclusionsFemale cardiothoracic surgeons are more likely to experience major pregnancy complications than non-surgeon partners of their male peers. Long operative hours during pregnancy and older maternal age are significant risk factors for pregnancy complications. To advance gender equity, policies to protect maternal-fetal health and facilitate childbearing during training and early career are needed.Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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