NEWS:SMOKERS’ CHILDREN AT GREATER RISK IN OPERATIONS

Children who live with a smoker are more likely to suffer complications if they undergo general anaesthesia.

Complications such as lack of oxygen in the blood and spasms as the anaesthetic was administered occurred in 42 per cent of children with the highest concentrations of cotinine in the urine. Cotinine is a byproduct of nicotine (Anesthesiology, May 1998).