EFFECTS OF PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SMOKING ON INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA

It is said that cigarette smokers suffer stormy induction of anaesthes ia; although plausible, this is unsubstantiated. We have studied the i ncidence of adverse events during induction, together with peripheral oxygen saturation (sp(o2)), in active and passive smokers, and in non- smokers. During induction, both active and passive smokers had a highe r incidence of adverse events than non-smokers (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Irrespective of smoking status, those suffering advers e events had greater concentrations of carboxyhaemoglobin and suffered more oxygen desaturation than those not suffering such events. Althou gh we were unable to demonstrate a direct link between smoking status and oxygen desaturation during induction, our study gives a firmer bas is for exhorting patients not only to stop smoking before anaesthesia but also to avoid passive smoking.