Preoperative Smoking Cessation and its Association with Postoperative Complications and Length of Hospital Stay in Patients Undergoing Herniorrhaphy

BACKGROUND: To assess the effect of preoperative smoking cessation on postoperative complications in patients undergoing herniorrhaphy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 163 consecutive patients, undergoing herniorrhaphy. Demographic characteristics and postoperative complications were compared between smokers (group A), patients who reduced smoking by 50% (group B), and patients who completely quit smoking (group C). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 42.9 (SD=10.3) years. Group A (n=77), group B (n=27), and group C (n=59) were not significantly different in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), medical history, laboratory data, smoking habit, type of hernia, type of anesthesia, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, repair method, surgery approach, and duration surgery (P>0.05 for all). However, significant differences were observed between group B and group A, group C and group A, and group C and group B regarding postoperative complications, such as wound healing complications and length of hospital stay (LOS) (P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Decreased preoperative smoking is associated with the reduced risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and wound healing complications and decreased LOS in patients undergoing herniorrhaphy.