Pediatrician Questions Pediatrician

Smoking and adenoids?

I am a 16 year old girl who smokes weed for my severe panic attacks. I have an adenoidectomy coming up and want it to go safely. So when should I stop before and start after this surgery?

Female | 16 years old
Medications: Prozac

2 Answers

Stop as soon as you can prior to the procedures.
This is a complicated question for which you should touch base with your anesthesia and surgical teams for guidance. From the anesthesia perspective (https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/preparing-for-surgery/risks/smoking/#:~:text=It's%20no%20secret%20that%20smoking,that%20makes%20you%20lose%20consciousness.), smoking does alter lung function but the anesthesiologists who will be monitoring you during the procedure can make adjustments in your anesthesia if needed. Knowing ahead of time will help them provide the best care for you. In terms of addressing when to stop, there is a balance between the benefit of stopping and the physiologic effects of cannabis withdrawal syndrome, should you stop completely. This would also be worth running by your anesthesia team. In terms of when to start back after your surgery, the surgical site from where the adenoids are removed takes time to heal. I would ask your ENT surgical team about how long you should refrain from smoking after surgery. These time frame guidelines will help you to decide if you need to have an alternative short-term plan available to manage your panic attacks. Good luck.
[https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/asa-meta-image.jpg]<https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/preparing-for-surgery/risks/smoking/#:~:text=It's%20no%20secret%20that%20smoking,that%20makes%20you%20lose%20consciousness.>
Smoking: Surgery Risks & Anesthesia Complications - Made for This Moment - American Society of Anesthesiologists<https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/preparing-for-surgery/risks/smoking/#:~:text=It's%20no%20secret%20that%20smoking,that%20makes%20you%20lose%20consciousness.>
Smoking. It’s no secret that smoking causes serious health problems, including heart disease, asthma, and lung cancer. If you are having surgery, you also may experience complications related to smoking and anesthesia.
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