Chapter 11 Other health problems

tobacco reference guideg (artefact pour

Other health problems: Wound Healing and Surgery

globalink (artefact pour saut de ligne)

Smoking significantly increases a person's chances of suffering complications when

undergoing surgery. The risks are multiple: Smokers who require anesthesia are

much more likely to suffer anesthesia-associated complications, and their surgical

wounds don't heal well. Smokers require a significantly longer time in the recovery

room to stabilize than do nonsmokers, and they need supplemental oxygen for a

longer time after surgery. The inability to clear secretions is magnified in smokers and

is associated with their much greater risk of developing respiratory infections such as

pneumonia and bronchitis. Smokers also have a greater chance of suffering a

collapsed lung after undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

Cigarettes, pp. 48-49

tobacco reference guideg (artefact pour saut

In a study of 410 patients in Syracuse, New York undergoing elective non-cardiac

surgery, postoperative pulmonary complications occurred in 22% of current smokers

compared to 4.9% of never smokers. Because of this nearly six-fold increased risk for

complications, the authors advise all smokers to stop smoking for at least four weeks

prior to elective surgery. If this is not possible, all current smokers should become

abstinent for the 24 hours immediately before surgery to lower their

carboxyhemoglobin level. Reducing rather than stopping smoking before surgery did

not decrease the risk

Chest, April 1998, pp. 857 and 883

tobacco reference guideg (artefact pour saut

Smoking a single cigarette can reduce blood flow to the fingers by more than 40% for

up to an hour, posing a significant problem for surgery involving the hands.

Cigarettes, p.52

tobacco reference guideg (artefact pour saut

In a study of 1186 patients undergoing face lifts, 10.2% were complicated by skin

sloughing, and 80% of the group with this complication were current smokers. A

patient undergoing a face lift who smoked had a 12.46 times greater chance of skin

slough than a nonsmoker.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, May 1996, p. 718

tobacco reference guideg (artefact pour saut

tobacco reference guideg (artefact pour

Thursday, July 06, 2000

Page 31 of 32

globalink (artefact pour saut de ligne)

First page of this chapter        Previous page of this chapter        Next page of this chapter Last page of this chapter Copyright (©) 2000 - David Moyer - published on UICC GLOBALink