Impact of smoking habits on postoperative outcomes following lung surgery for cancer: results from the Epithor database.

This article examines the impact of smoking status on postoperative complications following lung resection for cancer, using data from Epithor, the national database of the French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (SFCTCV). Analysis of 7,204 patients from 2002 to 2020 showed that active smokers had significantly higher risks of respiratory complications, infections, and prolonged air leak compared to former smokers, with risk increasing alongside smoking exposure measured in pack-years. Former smokers exhibited lower complication rates than active smokers but did not reach the lower risk levels of never smokers, suggesting some irreversible damage from smoking. The study highlights the potential benefits of preoperative smoking cessation in reducing postoperative morbidity and supports the role of surgeons in encouraging cessation to improve surgical outcomes.