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Preoperative Smoking Cessation: Impact on Perioperative and Long-term Complications ($$) 

Habitual tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for 1 of every 5 deaths.1 Although there has been a steady decline in the percentage of smokers since 1960, a plateau in this progress has been noted in the past decade. In 2000, 25.7% of males and 21.0% of females were smokers.2 The physiologic impact of smoking is well described and includes impaired mucus transport and pulmonary macrophage function, increased bronchial reactivity and arterial carbon monoxide levels, reduced oxygen transport, and inhibited mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.3 In addition, active smoking, including heavy (20 cigarettes/d) and lighter users, has also been associated with an increased relative risk (1.44 overall) of the future development of type 2 . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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