RedScrubs
The Resource for Medical Professionals

“We’ve known for a while that tobacco smoking deleteriously affects surgical outcomes. The theory is that knocking off the cancer sticks for even a few weeks pre-operatively will lead to an increase in oxygen delivery to healing tissues, therefore making it less likely that you’ll have complications such as wound infections and anastomotic leaks and the like.” Yes, one more reason to quit smoking. But, wait…this blog is about the study itself and a poorly designed study at that. The variables for negative outcomes were so poorly defined it was laughable. Like the good doctor said, “what will be next, a randomized control style study where it is strongly suggested that infection rates are improved in surgeons who wear sterile gloves during an operation versus surgeons who dip their fingers in toilet bowls prior to a case and then operate gloveless?”