Impact of short duration smoking cessation on post-operative complications: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Use of tobacco poses significant health risks, particularly in surgical patients, where smoking is a well-established risk factor for postoperative complications. Patients are often seen in the pre-assessment clinic 2-4 weeks prior to surgery, presenting a window of opportunity to intervene. The objective of our systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore the impact of short-term smoking cessation on postoperative outcomes, focusing on the critical 2-4-week period preceding surgery.