Anesthesia Considerations 

Cigarette Smoking 

 

 

Considerations

 

• Limited respiratory reserve

• Methemoglobinemia, carboxyhemoglobinemia, nicotinic induced tachycardia & increased MVO2

• ↑ risk perioperative respiratory complications:

  • Atelectesis

  • Hypoxemia

  • Bronchospasm

• Associated diseases:

  • Chronic obstructive lung disease

  • Coronary artery disease

  • Reactive airways

  • Lung cancer

 

 

Goals

 

• Education regarding benefits of pre-operative smoking cessation when possible

• Expect improved oxygen delivery by 24-48 hrs, ↑ mucous production & ↑ expectoration from 2 days to 4 weeks, improved postoperative infection rate due to improved tissue oxygenation, reduced risk of pulmonary complications after 8 weeks