​Statement on Smoking Cessation

Developed By: Task Force on Smoking Cessation
Committee of Oversight: Respiratory Care
Last Amended: October 18, 2023 (original approval: October 22, 2008)

Based on data published in 2021 by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 11.5% of American adults consume traditional cigarettes and up to half of these individuals will die prematurely from this behavior.  In addition, approximately 4.5% of American adults use so-called electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).  More worrisome, 3.3% of middle school students and 14.1% of high school students report e-cigarette use in the preceding 30 days. 

Each year, millions of cigarette and e-cigarette consumers (smokers) require surgery and anesthesia in the United States. Smoking has a direct impact on postoperative outcomes including respiratory complications, cardiac complications, and wound healing.  Abstinence from smoking may improve these outcomes.  In addition, the perioperative period may represent a teachable moment for promotion of long-term smoking cessation, with smokers potentially being more receptive to messages urging them to quit. For these reasons, the perioperative period represents an excellent opportunity for smokers to quit smoking. Patients should abstain from smoking for as long as possible both before and after surgery and should obtain help in doing so.  Patients can receive help in a variety of ways, including telephone quitlines (e.g., the Centers for Disease Control’s 1-800-QUITNOW), which are of proven efficacy and are now readily available to all Americans.