[Effect of cigarette smoking on skin perfusion of the hand].
BACKGROUND
Cigarette consumption leads to postoperative wound healing disturbances by impairing skin circulation.


METHODS
Fourteen nonsmokers and 44 smokers were investigated and classified according to age (<40 and >40 years) and duration of cigarette consumption. Circulation at the tip of the middle finger was measured in both groups under standard conditions with laser Doppler imaging.


RESULTS
There was a reduction in skin blood circulation of 24% in smokers (young 39%, older 11%, P=0.001) and 30% in nonsmokers (young 35%, older 18%, P=0.019). With longer duration of cigarette consumption, the effect grew weaker (<10 years 25%, 11-30 years 18%, >30 years 15%). There was no correlation between the number of cigarettes consumed per day and impaired circulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Younger subjects react to cigarette consumption with a stronger reduction in circulation. In elective surgery, especially in young smokers we recommend a 6- to 8-week nicotine abstinence prior to surgical intervention.
Petschke
F T
FT
Universitätsklinik für Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Osterreich.
Engelhardt
T O
TO
Ulmer
H
H
Piza-Katzer
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology