The effects of smoking on the wound healing process.
Cigarette smoking is associated with delayed healing, wound infection and dehiscence. Smokers with wounds can avoid these risks if they refrain from smoking, even if only for a short-term period while the wound is healing.
Kean
J
J
Duke of Kent Plastic Surgery, Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the National Blood Services Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Oxford, UK. jenniferkean@nhs.net
D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology