Improving Surgical Outcomes and Patient Health: Perioperative Smoking Cessation Interventions

Purpose of Review This review is aimed at discussing the evidence for perioperative smoking cessation interventions and at describing the components of an effective, multimodal smoking cessation intervention. Recent Findings The increased risks associated with smoking around the time of surgery are well established. There is strong evidence for the benefits of perioperative smoking cessation interventions, which include increasing smoking abstinence and decreasing surgical complications. Interventions should aim to start at least 4 weeks preoperatively and provide ongoing support; however, starting any time before or after surgery is beneficial. Collaboration between multiple healthcare providers is important. Accessible patient education tools and appropriate pharmacotherapy are useful adjuvants. Summary Perioperative smoking cessation interventions have proven benefits and should be implemented. This review describes and provides evidence for the various components of a multimodal perioperative smoking cessation program.