title: The effects of tobacco smoking on the incidence and risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications in adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the warnings of health hazards of cigarette smoking, still one third of the population in industrial countries smoke. This review was conducted with the aim of exploring the effects of preoperative tobacco smoking on the risk of intra- and postoperative complications and to identify the value of preoperative smoking cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The databases that were searched included The Cochrane Library Database, Medline, and EMBASE. Articles were also identified through a general internet search using the Google search engine. The incidence or risk of different types of intra- and postoperative complications were used as outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tobacco smoking has a negative effect on surgical outcome, as has been found to be a risk factor for the development of complications during and after many types of surgery, even in the absence of chronic lung disease. Furthermore, the long-term health hazards of smoking reduce health-related quality of life and premature death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is widely documented that stopping smoking before surgery has substantial health benefits in the longer term and should be recommended to every smoker in order for them to gain maximum benefit from their treatment. However, identification of the optimal period of preoperative smoking cessation on postoperative complications cannot be determined.
authors.affiliation: Second Surgical Department, 401 General Army Hospital of Athens, Greece. drsgourgiotis@tiscali.co.uk
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aloizos
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aravosita
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mystakelli
authors.forename: Eleni-Christina
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Isaia
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gakis
authors.forename: Nikolaos S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Salemis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology