Women undergoing CABG surgery have a higher operative mortality rate, longer hospitalizations, and higher hospital costs compared with men. A large proportion of this excess morbidity and mortality of surgery for women is due to perioperative neurologic injury. Estrogen has been consistently shown to reduce the extent of neurologic injury in a variety of in vitro and animal experimental stroke models. These data together strongly suggest that the higher risk for perioperative neurologic complications for elderly women may relate to their estrogen deficient state.