Research shows that vaping could prevent healing of wounds and surgical scars

New research is warning against vapors to prevent wound healing.

It is already advisable for patients to stop smoking for at least a month before operations such as plastic surgery.

Nicotine, the addictive ingredient, is known to restrict blood flow and increase the risk of complications for cigarette smokers.

But a study has now shown that e-cigarettes are just as bad, hindering the process of joining wounded skin flaps.

The discovery has implications for how doctors advise patients before going under the knife.

They must take into account the impact of traditional cigarettes and battery-powered cigarettes on the progress and safety of wound healing, the US team said.

"Not a Safe Alternative" [[19659008] Professor Jeffrey Spiegel, Head of Plastic Facial Surgery at the Boston Medical Center in the United States, said, "Our findings suggest that e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative

"Providers and patients need to understand the risks of both types of smoking so that they can make the best possible decision to make the patient as safe as possible before and after the surgery."

In experiments on rats, Professor Spiegel and his colleagues discovered scarring of the cutaneous wound affected by vaping, causing lesions similar to those of conventional smoking.

Both forms cause additional tissue death, delaying healing of the wound.

Two years ago, other US experts warned that nicotine in e-cigarette fumes increases the risk of blood-related complications – just like smoking real.

This study, published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, is the first direct evidence of their accuracy.

Professor Spiegel stated that the harmful effects of the traditional cigarette on wound healing were well established in the field of surgery. [19659002] Surgeons recommend that patients quit smoking several months before surgery, if possible

But vaping technology is gaining popularity and no major research has yet been conducted to find out whether it is a safer alternative, especially before an operation.

. the researchers exposed rats to traditional cigarette smoke, e-cig vapor or any of these substances, by searching the blood concentrations of a chemical cotinine causing nicotine to ensure comparable quantities.

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They then created skin flaps created from animals, which were individually grafted to measure viability and healing of wounds.

After two weeks, the tissue growth rate was statistically higher. Death on group grafts exposed to traditional cigarettes – or e-cigs.

Professor Spiegel said he was inspired by a call from the US Food and Drug Administration to continue his research on the safety of e-cigs.

He stated, "Smoking is gaining popularity among young people, first-time smokers, and current smokers, but evidence of its safety, particularly its badociation with wound healing, is inadequate."

19659002] Studies suggest that e-cig fluids contain more carcinogenic chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Others show that vaporization pens can release heavy metals, chemicals, and glbad particles. found in the welding material and in the tubing of the device.

E-cigs manufacturers have not published a complete list of the compounds that make up the various fluids.

Professor Spiegel said: "The adverse badociation of traditional smoking with wound healing and flap viability is well

"However, the literature on the impact of the electronic cigarette on healing and flap viability is lacking. "

He added:" Smoking and vaping seem to be just as damaging to wound healing and badociated with a statistically significant increase in tissue mortality.

"The results suggest that vaping should not be considered a better alternative to smoking in the context of wound healing."

"Surgeons are advised to counsel their patients appropriately and to consider those who use electronic cigarettes as having an equivalent risk of preoperative scarring. those who smoke cigarettes. "

Shaun Desai, a plastic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, congratulated the results and said that patients should be screened before being operated on for the electronic cigarette.

He "This study presents evidence of the detrimental power of electronic cigarettes in the rat, but clinical evidence is scarce in humans.

"Patients often do not voluntarily communicate this information, mistakenly thinking that it is a vaping, because they do not do it. is not a relevant medical history to share.

"Similarly, until new studies are completed, any use of the electronic cigarette should be stopped four weeks before any surgery, as recommended. on traditional cigarettes. "