• David O Warner, Christi A Patten, Steven C Ames, Kenneth P Offord, and Darrell R Schroeder.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Anesthesia Clinical Research Unit, and Nicotine Dependence Center, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. warner.david@mayo.edu
• Anesthesiology. 2005 Jun 1; 102 (6): 113811461138-46.

BackgroundMany surgical patients are dependent on nicotine. Smoke-free policies in healthcare facilities mandate abstinence from smoking, which could contribute to psychological stress in the perioperative period. The authors tested the hypothesis that nicotine replacement therapy decreases psychological stress in cigarette smokers scheduled to undergo elective surgery and determined whether nicotine replacement therapy affects postoperative smoking behavior, even when not specifically prescribed to promote abstinence.MethodsIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 121 smokers, of whom 116 received a study intervention, were randomly assigned to receive either active (nicotine-containing) or placebo patches, beginning on the morning of surgery and continuing for up to 30 days after discharge from the hospital. Outcomes included the Perceived Stress Score, the Nicotine Withdrawal Score, and subject self-report of smoking behavior.ResultsThe Perceived Stress Score and the Nicotine Withdrawal Score did not change significantly from baseline over the immediate perioperative period and did not differ between active or placebo patch groups (all P > 0.19). The percentage of placebo versus active patch subjects reporting 7-day abstinence at 30 days postoperatively (30% vs. 39%; P = 0.29) did not differ significantly between groups. At 30 days postoperatively, subjects in both groups significantly reduced their cigarettes smoked per day from baseline, but those receiving active patches reported a greater decrease (a mean decrease of 11 +/- 11 vs. 15 +/- 7 cigarettes/day in placebo and active groups; P = 0.045).ConclusionRoutine nicotine replacement therapy is not indicated in smokers undergoing surgery for the purposes of managing nicotine withdrawal and stress but can modify some aspects of postoperative smoking behavior.

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