Benefit of Systematic Proposition of Nicotine Substitution for Patients Undergoing Surgery

Overview

Smoking is associated with a higher rate of surgical complications. For example, in orthopedics, the risk of complications is 31% in smokers against 5% in non-smokers. The management of this addiction is recommended and particularly interesting in scheduled surgery, because it allows smoking cessation well before the procedure. However, for patients who cannot consider this smoking cessation, the mere information of the risk cannot be sufficient and a real strategy must be constructed and evaluated. Currently, studies results indicate that a patient reducing the number of smoked cigarettes will unconsciously modify their smoking behaviour to obtain the usual nicotine level, this effect is called self-titration. Conversely, nicotine replacement while continuing consumption could induce an improvement in smoking behaviour, therefore less intoxication which would be beneficial in terms of reduction of post-operative complications. This study seeks to assess the effectiveness of a systematic proposition of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in regular smokers. Tobacco addiction specialists have demonstrated that intoxication and dependence are well correlated with the exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) level, so this measurement will be used in addition to the patient's interview.

Conditions