Can you vape before surgery?

It is not recommended to continue using electronic cigarettes before the surgery. Whether for the safety of anesthesia or for postoperative recovery, using electronic cigarettes (including those containing nicotine or without nicotine) significantly increases the risk of surgery. The safest approach is to stop using them as long as possible before the surgery.

Why must electronic cigarettes be stopped before the surgery?
The impact of electronic cigarettes on the perioperative period is multifaceted, and the main risks are concentrated in the following points:

Respiratory system complications: This is the most direct risk. Electronic cigarette smoke irritates the airways, leading to increased airway reactivity and impaired mucociliary clearance function. This means that during anesthesia, your airways are more prone to spasm (bronchospasm), and postoperatively, it is more difficult to clear secretions, thereby increasing the risk of respiratory system complications such as pneumonia. A study shows that postoperative pulmonary complications are 11% in non-smokers, while they can reach up to 50% in smokers or electronic cigarette users.

Cardiovascular system pressure: Nicotine in electronic cigarettes causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the workload and oxygen consumption of the heart. At the same time, carbon monoxide in the smoke binds to hemoglobin, reducing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, which can lead to serious consequences such as myocardial ischemia for patients with a heart burden during the surgery.

Affecting wound healing and increasing the risk of infection: Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing the blood and oxygen supply to the surgical wound, which directly delays wound healing and increases the risk of infection.

Interfering with anesthesia management: Electronic cigarette users have more sensitive airways, and anesthesiologists need to adopt more cautious strategies to manage the airways to reduce the risk of laryngeal spasm and bronchospasm. In addition, the components in electronic cigarettes may alter the body's metabolism of anesthetic drugs, making the regulation of anesthesia depth more complex.

How long before the surgery should you stop using electronic cigarettes?
The longer you stop using electronic cigarettes, the more significant the risk reduction will be. The specific recommended duration may vary depending on different medical institutions and surgical types, but the general principle is the earlier, the better:

Minimum requirement: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) states that even stopping a few days before the surgery can help prevent respiratory problems during the perioperative period. The Ontario Society of Anesthesiologists also mentions that stopping 12 hours before the surgery can significantly reduce the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, improving the oxygen supply to the heart.

Significant benefit: Stopping 2 weeks before the surgery can measurably reduce the risk of respiratory system complications.

Ideal goal: Many authoritative guidelines recommend that for elective surgeries, a complete cessation of use for at least 4 weeks should be pursued. For some surgeries with extremely high requirements for wound healing (such as plastic surgery or orthopedic surgery), some surgeons even recommend stopping the use of all nicotine products 6-8 weeks before the surgery.

What should you tell your doctor?
During the preoperative assessment, be sure to tell your medical team about your use of electronic cigarettes. The information you need to provide includes: the frequency of use, the type of device, the concentration of nicotine in the liquid, and whether it contains other substances (such as THC/marijuana). This can help anesthesiologists develop the safest individualized anesthesia plan for you.

Summary: To ensure your safety, consider the surgery as an opportunity to quit smoking/electronic cigarettes. Stop using immediately and inform your doctor about your usage.

If you want to know the specific preoperative preparation timeline, let me know which type of surgery you are about to undergo (for example, is it an outpatient minor surgery or a major surgery requiring hospitalization), and I can provide more relevant information for you.