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Dr Ed HalveySpecialist anaesthetist, Perth

Before surgerySmoking and vaping

Smoking, vaping and cannabis before surgery

Smoking, vaping and cannabis all affect your heart, lungs and healing. This page explains why it matters, why stopping at any time helps, and where to get support. Telling us what you use helps keep you safe. We will not judge you.

Perth, Western Australia
Why it matters

Smoking lowers the oxygen in your blood and slows healing.

Any time helps

Stopping before surgery helps, however close the date.

Support

Quitline 13 7848, your GP or pharmacist. Nicotine replacement can be used.

Cannabis

Tell us if you use it. It changes how anaesthetic medicines work.

General information only. This page is not personal medical advice. Always follow the instructions from Dr Halvey, your surgeon and the hospital, including the times your hospital gives you.

Why it matters

Smoking affects your body during and after an anaesthetic:

  • Carbon monoxide from smoke reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry.
  • Nicotine raises your heart rate and blood pressure and narrows blood vessels.
  • Your airways are more irritable and make more mucus, which raises the risk of a chest infection after surgery.
  • Wounds and bones heal more slowly, and wound infections are more likely.

Stopping at any time helps

It is never too late to stop. Carbon monoxide and nicotine levels start to fall soon after you stop. The longer you stop before surgery, the more your lungs, wound healing and immune system can recover.

If you cannot stop completely, cutting down still helps. Try not to smoke or vape at all on the day of your surgery.

Surgery can be a good time to stop for good. Many people find it easier with support.

Getting support

  • Quitline: call 13 7848 (13 QUIT) for free, confidential support.
  • Your GP or pharmacist can talk with you about nicotine replacement and other medicines that help people stop.
  • Tell the hospital team that you smoke or vape. WA hospitals are smoke-free, and nicotine replacement can be offered during your stay.

Nicotine replacement

Nicotine replacement, such as patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray or an inhaler, can be used before and after surgery. It is much safer than continuing to smoke.

  • Patches can usually be worn as normal, including on the day of surgery. Tell the team you are wearing one.
  • Ask before using gum, lozenges or spray on the morning of surgery, as the hospital may treat these under its fasting rules. See fasting.

Vaping

Most vapes contain nicotine, as well as other chemicals that can irritate your airways. Nicotine from a vape has the same effects on your heart, blood vessels and healing as nicotine from cigarettes.

  • Tell the team if you vape, and what you vape.
  • Try to stop before surgery, in the same way as for smoking, and do not vape on the day of surgery.
  • Quitline and your GP can also help you stop vaping.

Cannabis

Please tell Dr Halvey if you use cannabis, whether it is prescribed medicinal cannabis or not, and how you take it. This is asked for your safety only. What you tell us is confidential and we will not judge you.

Cannabis matters because it can:

  • change the amount of anaesthetic medicine you need
  • make your airways more irritable if you smoke it
  • raise your heart rate and blood pressure, especially soon after use
  • affect how much pain and nausea you have after surgery, and which pain medicines suit you
  • interact with some other medicines.
  • Do not smoke or vape cannabis on the day of surgery.
  • Edibles, oils and drinks containing cannabis count as food or drink under fasting rules.
  • If you take prescribed medicinal cannabis, bring the details with you. Dr Halvey will advise whether to keep taking it.

The same applies to any other recreational drugs. Telling us helps us choose the safest anaesthetic and pain relief for you.

Questions before your surgery? Contact the rooms on (08) 6267 6200. For health advice at any time, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222. In an emergency call 000.