(1)   A 45 years old man, Mr. Jones who was scheduled for a major surgery stopped smoking 6 months before the surgery. Another 50 years old man, Mr. Smith stopped smoking a week before surgery. Which of the following statements is false? 

(a)    Mr. Jones has higher risk of post operative pulmonary complications than Mr. Smith

(b)   Mr. Smith has higher risk of post operative pulmonary complications than Mr. Jones  

(c)    Both Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith have quit smoking and have lower risk than one who continues to smoke

(d)   Mr. Jones has a risk equal to that of a non-smoker.

Answer: The answer is (a). In one study of smoking cessation preoperatively it was shown that people who quit more than 8 weeks before surgery had benefits whereas those who quit within 8 weeks of surgery had a four fold increase in risk when compared to those who quit more than 8 weeks before. Those who quit 6 months before surgery had risk equal to those who never smoked.