Smoking and alcohol intervention before surgery: evidence for best practice

Abstract

Smoking and hazardous drinking are common and important risk factors for an increased rate of complications after surgery. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms include organic dysfunctions that can recover with abstinence. Abstinence starting 3-8 weeks before surgery will significantly reduce the incidence of several serious postoperative complications, such as wound and cardiopulmonary complications and infections. However, this intervention must be intensive to obtain sufficient effect on surgical complications. All patients presenting for surgery should be questioned regarding smoking and hazardous drinking, and interventions appropriate for the surgical setting applied.

Smoking cessation intervention activities and outcomes before, during and after the national Healthcare Reform in Denmark

“…A recent example is the intensive peri-operative smoking cessation intervention programme that significantly reduces the complication rate and is followed by a relatively high quit rate on longer term (18). Unfortunately, the surgical group of smokers has not yet been shown to benefit from general practitioner activities (19).…”

Smoking May Be a Harbinger of Early Failure With Ultraporous Metal Acetabular Reconstruction

“…One study of the effect of smoking on implant survival in THA reported a 4.5-fold greater risk for cup or stem revision secondary to aseptic loosening in smokers [43]. Preoperative smoking cessation can reduce the rate of postoperative complications including delayed wound healing, wound infection, pulmonary, and cardiovascular [35,66,70,71].…”

Smoking and mental ilness

“…This association has since then been re-evaluated in over 300 studies (5). A quite new aspect of the danger of smoking was introduced through a demonstration of direct relation between smoking and the outcome of treatment.…”