(Originally presented by Dr Boris Waldman)
Complications of smoking after major surgery:
![](https://sghanaesthesiaeducation.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/image.png?w=706)
Smoking and quitting trends
- Median age of smokers 54
- 41% are female
- Median 10 cigarettes/day
- 61% reported smoking within 30 minutes of waking most mornings
- 50% reported smoking on the morning of surgery
- 31% reported attempting to quit within 30 days of surgery
- 15% had tried some form of pharmacological patches
Take home messages:
- Many patients will continue to smoke despite major surgery
- Many patients are not aware of the significant health risks related to surgery
- At any opportunity – ask, advise and refer
- Practice points to share
- Tell them about the increased risk of wound complications post surgery
- Ask your patient not to smoke on the morning of surgery
- Ask your patient to buy patches – everyone smoking >10 per day or within 30 minutes of waking should start with 25mg/day (remember each cigarette is 2mg)
Useful links:
- ANZCA guideline on smoking in the preoperative period
- NSW Government Quitline
- RACS: Cessation of smoking