Highlights
- •Smoking is associated with complications after gastrointestinal surgery.
- •Risk of pulmonary complications is particularly high.
- •Smoking cessation may be an important part of preoperative optimization.
Abstract
Background
Understanding modifiable surgical risk factors is essential for preoperative optimization.
We evaluated the association between smoking and complications following major gastrointestinal
surgery.
Methods
Patients who underwent elective colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, or hepatic procedures
were identified in the 2017 ACS NSQIP dataset. The primary outcome was 30-day death
or serious morbidity (DSM). Secondary outcomes included pulmonary complications, wound
complications, and readmission. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate
the association between smoking and these outcomes.
Results
A total of 46,921 patients were identified, of whom 7,671 (16.3%) were smokers. Smoking
was associated with DSM (23.2% vs. 20.4%, OR 1.15 [1.08–1.23]), wound complications
(13.0% vs. 10.4%, OR 1.24 [1.14–1.34]), pulmonary complications (4.9% vs 2.9%, OR
1.93 [1.70–2.20]), and unplanned readmission (12.6% vs. 11%, OR 1.14 [95% CI 1.06–1.23]).
Conclusions
Smoking is associated with complications following major gastrointestinal surgery.
Patients who smoke should be counseled prior to surgery regarding risks.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 06, 2021
Accepted:
June 3,
2021
Received in revised form:
May 10,
2021
Received:
December 9,
2020
Identification
Copyright
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