Feasibility of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems in Surgical Patients

Conclusion:
ENDS use is feasible in adult smokers scheduled for elective surgery and is associated with a reduction in perioperative cigarette consumption. These results support further exploration of ENDS as a means to help surgical patients reduce or eliminate their cigarette consumption around the time of surgery.

Implications:
Smoking in the perioperative period increases patients’ risk for surgical complications and healing difficulties, but new strategies are needed to help patients quit or cut down during this stressful time. These pilot data suggest that ENDS use is feasible and well-accepted in surgical patients, and worthy of exploration as a harm reduction strategy in these patients.

Source: Nicotine and Tobacco Research - July 11, 2016 Category: Addiction Authors: Nolan, M., Leischow, S., Croghan, I., Kadimpati, S., Hanson, A., Schroeder, D., Warner, D. O. Tags: Original Investigation Source Type: research