Pilot Study: Preoperative Nicotine Lozenges

Nicotine lozenges, 2 or 4 mg, taken without restriction by mouth from 7 pm the evening before surgery until surgical admission the next day and a 2 minute behavioral intervention. Dosed according to time to first morning cigarette; if within 30 minutes of awakening, 4 mg lozenge used. If first cigarette smoked greater than 30 minutes of awakening, 2 mg lozenge used.

Placebo lozenges, matching in appearance the 2 and 4 mg active nicotine lozenges, taken by mouth without restriction from 7 pm the night before surgery to the time of surgical admission the next day and a 2 minute behavioral intervention.

A brief (approximately 2 minute) behavioral intervention advising abstinence from smoking after 7 pm the night before surgery, the potential benefits of abstinence and to use a lozenge at usual smoking times.