Tobacco Amene Of Complications After An Operation
Tobacco affects the recovery of patients after surgery. Complications following surgery are more frequent in smokers than in non-smokers. Toxic substances in tobacco affect healing, bone repair and smokers' ability to fight infections.
Difficult healing
Three components in tobacco smoke have serious implications for the ability to heal: nicotine, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide.
Nicotine
Nicotine reduces blood circulation and the amount of nutrients in the blood. These nutrients are necessary for the healing of organs. Also, nicotine disrupts the production of collagen, which reduces the ability of the skin to rebuild.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide decreases the amount of oxygen transported to organs and causes poor blood circulation. This hurts the wound healing.
Hydrogen cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide affects the transport of oxygen, which has detrimental effects on wound healing.
High rates of infections after surgery
People who smoke have a lower immune system than people who do not smoke. Tobacco clouds the transport of white blood cells that help the body fight infections and diseases. As a result of an operation, during the healing phase, a patient who smokes is therefore more likely to develop an infection than a non-smoker.
A study on the evaluation of 228 wounds showed that the rate of infections was 12% in smokers, but only 2% in non-smokers.
5 surgical operations at risk
Oral surgery
Smokers are twice as likely to lose a dental implant as non-smokers. When the implant remains in place, the healing of a person who consumes tobacco is often a few weeks longer than a person who does not smoke.
Orthopedic surgery
The probabilities of complications during orthopedic surgery are 31% among people who smoke, compared with 5% in non-smokers. These complications slow down the return to patient health.
Breast Cancer Surgery
Smoking harms healing during breast cancer surgery. More than one-third of smokers (39% versus 26% of non-smokers) experience complications when they undergo this type of operation.
Digestive Surgery
Smoking increases the risk that suturing loose organs after digestive surgery.
Bone Fracture
Bone reconstruction is much longer in people who smoke than in people who do not smoke. For example, an open fracture of the leg ends at week 32 in smokers, but as early as the 28th week in non-smokers.
Also, complications during plastic surgeries or surgeries involving skin grafting are common in smokers.
To reduce the risk of complications, smoking cessation remains the best solution. For information on the resources available to quit, see Does Quit Smoking Magic Work?
Difficult healing
Three components in tobacco smoke have serious implications for the ability to heal: nicotine, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide.
Nicotine
Nicotine reduces blood circulation and the amount of nutrients in the blood. These nutrients are necessary for the healing of organs. Also, nicotine disrupts the production of collagen, which reduces the ability of the skin to rebuild.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide decreases the amount of oxygen transported to organs and causes poor blood circulation. This hurts the wound healing.
Hydrogen cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide affects the transport of oxygen, which has detrimental effects on wound healing.
High rates of infections after surgery
People who smoke have a lower immune system than people who do not smoke. Tobacco clouds the transport of white blood cells that help the body fight infections and diseases. As a result of an operation, during the healing phase, a patient who smokes is therefore more likely to develop an infection than a non-smoker.
A study on the evaluation of 228 wounds showed that the rate of infections was 12% in smokers, but only 2% in non-smokers.
5 surgical operations at risk
Oral surgery
Smokers are twice as likely to lose a dental implant as non-smokers. When the implant remains in place, the healing of a person who consumes tobacco is often a few weeks longer than a person who does not smoke.
Orthopedic surgery
The probabilities of complications during orthopedic surgery are 31% among people who smoke, compared with 5% in non-smokers. These complications slow down the return to patient health.
Breast Cancer Surgery
Smoking harms healing during breast cancer surgery. More than one-third of smokers (39% versus 26% of non-smokers) experience complications when they undergo this type of operation.
Digestive Surgery
Smoking increases the risk that suturing loose organs after digestive surgery.
Bone Fracture
Bone reconstruction is much longer in people who smoke than in people who do not smoke. For example, an open fracture of the leg ends at week 32 in smokers, but as early as the 28th week in non-smokers.
Also, complications during plastic surgeries or surgeries involving skin grafting are common in smokers.
To reduce the risk of complications, smoking cessation remains the best solution. For information on the resources available to quit, see Does Quit Smoking Magic Work?