Quit smoking

to improve outcomes

after routine surgery

People who are in good health recover better after an operation and have fewer complications. We want to make sure that you are as fit as possible before routine surgery.

Stopping smoking before an operation reduces the risk of serious complications, improves healing time, decreases the time you will be in hospital after the operation and means you are less likely to be admitted to intensive care.

You can reduce your level of risk if you stop smoking as early as possible before your operation.

Improving the outcome of your routine surgery

Smokers are 38% more likely to die after routine surgery than non-smokers. There is good evidence that stopping smoking before your operation:

• reduces lung, heart and infectious complications

• reduces bone healing time for fracture repair

• reduces length of stay in hospital

• reduces anaesthesia related complications

• decreases wound healing time. The wound cannot heal as effectively if you smoke as not only is there a reduced blood flow but a lower level of oxygen in the blood

• reduces breathing problems. If you smoke you have a one in three risk of post-operative breathing problems. This can be reduced to one in ten if you stop smoking eight weeks before the operation

Risk of smoking for people with long-term health conditions

For diabetic patients, stopping smoking:

• decreases the risk of developing heart disease

• slows the progression of kidney disease

For cancer patients, stopping smoking:

• improves the outcome of surgery for lung cancer as well as increasing survival rates and reducing risk of recurrence

• increases responsiveness to radiotherapy for head and neck cancers, and increases survival rates

• reduces the risk of recurrences and improves overall survival rates for bladder cancer

For asthma patients, stopping smoking:

• improves how your lungs work and reduces asthma symptoms

• reduces the need for medication and can improve the effectiveness of some treatments

• decreases risk of hospital admission and serious flare-up

For patients with lung disease (COPD), stopping smoking:

• slows down the progression of disease and may lead to an improvement in how well your lungs work

• reduces risk of flare-ups and may extend life expectancy at whatever stage you quit

For patients with heart disease, stopping smoking:

• decreases the risk of death after a heart attack

• decreases the risk of hospital re-admission

Make the change now

We all know that smoking affects our long term health. Achieving a healthier lifestyle before routine surgery will reduce the risk of complications and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.

We strongly recommend that you quit smoking before undergoing a routine operation.

Further information

For more information on quitting smoking visit:

NHS Smokefree www.nhs.uk/smokefree

or telephone the

Smokefree National Helpline

on 0300 123 1044

NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/Livewell/smoking

One You www.nhs.uk/oneyou

Kirklees Council www.kirklees.gov.uk

NHS North Kirklees CCG www.northkirkleesccg.nhs.uk/get-health-advice

NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG

www.greaterhuddersfieldccg.nhs.uk/your-health

Leaflet produced by NHS Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group [2018]. Credit: leaflet adapted from NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group. This document is available in other formats on request.