Smoking and hazardous drinking are common and important risk factors for an increased rate of complications after surgery. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms include organic dysfunctions that can recover with abstinence. Abstinence starting 3-8 weeks before surgery will significantly reduce the incidence of several serious postoperative complications, such as wound and cardiopulmonary co

AIM: To describe how women smokers with newly diagnosed breast cancer experienced brief preoperative smoking cessation intervention in relation to breast cancer surgery. BACKGROUND: Preoperative smoking cessation intervention is relevant for short- and long-term risk reduction in newly diagnosed cancer patients. Our knowledge of how patients with malignant diagnoses experience preoperative smoking

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the cancer morbidity in a large cohort of patients with alcohol use disorders in the general Danish population. Methods: We included 15,258 men and 3552 women free of cancer when attending the Copenhagen Outpatient Clinic for Alcoholics in the period from 1954 to 1992. The cancer incidence until 1999 of the patients and the general Danish population was o

Objective: To determine whether an intervention with smoking cessation starting 4 weeks before general and orthopedic surgery would reduce the frequency of postoperative complications.Summary Background Data: Complications are a major concern after elective surgery and smokers have an increased risk. There is insufficient evidence concerning how the duration of preoperative smoking intervention af

Introduction: Preoperative smoking intervention programmes reduce post‐operative complications in smokers. Little is known about the long‐term effect upon smoking cessation. Aim: To discover long‐term quit rates and the reasons behind successful cessation. Materials and Methods: 101 one of 120 smokers, randomised to smoking intervention or no intervention before hip and knee surgery, completed que

Every smoker should be offered smoking cessation treatment when they present for clinical care. The Readiness to Change-Smokers (RTC-S) questionnaire and the Heidelberg Smoking History (HSH) are brief questionnaires that divide patients into three stages. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the performance of each questionnaire at identifying patients who will successfully quit

Lifestyle factors are important for clinical outcome. Systematic and early identification of these factors is important in order to offer relevant lifestyle intervention programmes. The objective was to evaluate whether basic registration of risk factors was understandable, applicable and sufficient in the clinical workday.

Four to eight week prehabilitation programs for smokers and harmful drinkers were included in the national guidelines in 2001. In October 2007 a guarantee for surgery within one month of waiting time came into effect in Denmark. The present Danish patient administration system already contains room for registration of prehabilitation prior to surgery. Using one specific code for prehabilitation at

During the recent years improved operation techniques and administrative procedures have been developed for early rehabilitation. At the same time preoperative lifestyle intervention (prehabilitation) has revealed a large potential for additional risk reduction. The aim was to assess the quality of life and to estimate the cost-effectiveness of standard care versus an integrated programme includin

Introduction: Smoking is the most important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in hospital patients. Patient contact with the healthcare system should include smoking cessation counselling. Emergency admissions are seldom given this opportunity.Objective: The aim of the study was to illustrate the implementation of motivational counselling in a department of acute surgery.Methods: Between May

The first step of handling health promotion (HP) in Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) is a systematic documentation and registration of the activities in the medical records. So far the possibility and tradition for systematic registration of clinical HP activities in the medical records and in patient administrative systems have been sparse. Therefore, the activities are mostly invisible in the reg

This study investigated the effect of an anaesthetic regimen on the immune response in 40 long-term alcoholic patients undergoing surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either propofol or isoflurane during surgery. Plasma cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were measured at defined times and rates of post-operative infections were documented. The IL-6/IL-10 ratio significantly inc

Daily smokers and heavy drinkers develop two to four times more complications after major as well as minor surgery. Increased postoperative morbidity is probably due to tobacco and alcohol-related organ dysfunctions which are, however, reversible during abstinence. Preoperative smoking cessation intervention for six to eight weeks significantly reduces postoperative complications after knee and hi

Major surgery is associated with a decrease in muscle strength, muscle mass and functional performance. However, early intervention with intensive physical training seems to counteract the loss in muscle mass and muscle function as well as to shorten the postoperative length of stay in hospital. In addition, a sufficient intake of protein seems to be a central element in the treatment of postopera

One-third of injured patients treated in the emergency department (ED) have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Few are screened and receive counseling because ED staff have little time for additional tasks. We hypothesized that computer technology can screen and provide an intervention that reduces at-risk drinking (British Medical Association criteria) in injured ED patients.

Smoking is a well-known risk factor for perioperative complications. Smokers experience an increased incidence of respiratory complications during anaesthesia and an increased risk of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications, infections and impaired wound healing. Smokers have a greater risk of postoperative intensive care admission. Even passive smoking is associated with increased risk at ope

The aim of this study was to compare long-term recurrence and death rates after a first episode of acute pancreatitis in patients with and without gallstones. Additionally, it was of interest to find out if there were factors predictive of readmission or death.