Are you a smoker scheduled for surgery? No matter what type of surgery you are having, your health will suffer if you decide to smoke for a few weeks before and after your surgery. As difficult as it is, if you are going to have surgery, you should seriously consider quitting for your health.
Smoking and surgery: What can go wrong
There are a number of complications, risks and potential infections that can develop as a result of smoking before or after surgery. What exactly can go wrong? Here is an overview of the most common and serious complications that can occur as a result of smoking before or after surgery:
Wound infection. One of the most common complications that can occur if smoke is a wound infection. Smoking actually steals oxygen from cells that are in the process of healing. Smoking is a risk factor for wound infection in almost any type of surgery. Researchers have found that smokers who continue to smoke before surgery are at a much higher risk of developing wounds that do not heal properly.
Cardiopulmonary complications. Tobacco smoke is very hard on the heart, lungs and entire immune system. If you are scheduled for any type of heart surgery, it is imperative that you stop smoking at least six weeks before the surgery.
Vasoconstriction. Vasoconstriction refers to the narrowing of small blood vessels. Many heavy smokers are prone to vasoconstriction because smoking steals available oxygen from the cells. When this happens, the small blood vessels shrink, and the amount of hemoglobin needed to move oxygen from one part of the body to another decreases. Smoking also interferes with other chemicals that allow the body to release enough oxygen to the cells.
The researchers found that, on average, patients who quit smoking before surgery were kept in the hospital for two days less than those who smoked before surgery.
Remember, you should aim to come to the surgery with the healthiest body you can. The trauma of surgery is hard on your body. Smoking will only make it harder for your body to heal. In some cases, surgeons may even choose not to treat a patient if they are a smoker.
Quitting smoking for surgery
If you are a smoker, the best thing you can do to prepare your body for surgery is to stop completely, or at least dramatically reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Recent research suggests that smokers stop smoking at least six to eight weeks before surgery. Unfortunately, many smoking cessation products that would normally be available to smokers are not recommended for those heading into surgery. Nicotine gum and nicotine patches are not recommended for patients after surgery. Nicotine in chewing gum acts similarly to cigarette nicotine and interferes with the healing process in much the same way. Nicotine patches are also dangerous because the flow of nicotine can interfere with blood flow.
Many hospitals and clinics offer smoking cessation clinics to help surgical patients quit smoking before their scheduled surgery. Here are some general smoking cessation guidelines for surgery.
Stop immediately. If you have an upcoming surgery, you don't have time to quit smoking. Most doctors recommend that you stop smoking as soon as you find out about the surgery. A health scare is enough for many people to quit smoking!
Read about your surgery. Take the time to learn about your surgery. This will help you focus on your health and the importance of keeping your body in good shape for surgery. While you don't need to go into detail, familiarize yourself with the procedure.
Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation aids you can use. Surgery patients are often unable to use such smoking cessation aids as nicotine gum and nicotine patches. Find out what options are available for your specific case.
Leave together. Find someone to end up with. Making a commitment to quit with someone else will help you focus on staying smoke-free. You should also try to keep your home smoke-free while you recover. Some doctors recommend that all smokers in the household quit smoking or significantly reduce smoking during the patient's recovery period.
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