The acute effect of cigarette smoking on the microcirculation of a replanted digit

Thirty-one patients who had undergone digital replantation or revascularization volunteered to participate in a study of the acute effect of smoking on the microcirculation of the skin of replanted fingers. Fourteen were smokers and 17 were nonsmokers at the time of the study. Blood flow was assesse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of hand surgery (American ed.) Vol. 17; no. 2; p. 230
Main Authors van Adrichem, L N, Hovius, S E, van Strik, R, van der Meulen, J C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.1992
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Female
Fingers - blood supply
Fingers - surgery
Humans
Lasers
Male
Microcirculation - physiopathology
Middle Aged
Replantation
Smoking - adverse effects
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Summary:Thirty-one patients who had undergone digital replantation or revascularization volunteered to participate in a study of the acute effect of smoking on the microcirculation of the skin of replanted fingers. Fourteen were smokers and 17 were nonsmokers at the time of the study. Blood flow was assessed by means of the laser Doppler flowmeter under standard conditions. Each smoker inhaled 2 cigarettes. During smoking of the first and second cigarettes a mean decrease in laser Doppler flow of 8% and 19%, respectively, was found, whereas the nonsmokers showed a slight increase of 4% and 4%, respectively. Ten minutes after the last cigarette almost no recovery could be detected. The negative effect of smoking on the microcirculation in replanted digits proved to be more pronounced in the patients operated on more recently. This experiment confirms that smoking after replantation surgery should be prohibited to guarantee optimal circulation.
ISSN:0363-5023
DOI:10.1016/0363-5023(92)90397-8