Cigarette smoking, cannabis use and vaping behaviours in patients operated for spontaneous pneumothorax.

<bold>Background:</bold> Cigarette use, vaping and cannabis smoking are all important risk factors for spontaneous pneumothorax. We sought to explore pre- and post-operative use of these substances by patients previously operated for their pneumothorax. <bold>Methods:</bold> A questionnaire was developed and distributed by text-message to patients who underwent surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax at our institution between 2010 and 2023. Behaviour is reported in relation to their first pneumothorax surgery, on either side. [Local Registration: 12630] <bold>Results:</bold> 435 patients (67% male, operated between the ages of 16 and 86) responded. 27% (n = 117) denied ever using any tobacco, cannabis or vaping products; whilst 16% (n = 69) reported using all three at one point or other. 28% (n = 121) had never smoked tobacco. 42% (n = 184) were current smokers at the time of their surgery, with half (21% overall, n = 91) continuing to smoke afterwards. 69% (n = 302) reported never vaping. 14% (n = 60) were currently vaping at the time of their operation, with just under half (6% overall, n = 27) continuing thereafter. 11% (n = 48) newly started vaping after their surgery. 71% (n = 307) had never smoked cannabis. 19% (n = 82) were current cannabis smokers at the time of surgery, with over half (11% overall, n = 46) continuing to smoke cannabis thereafter. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This work presents the incidence and patterns of cigarette use, vaping and cannabis smoking in patients who have previously undergone surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax. This highlights opportunity for targeted educational intervention, in this at-risk patient group.