Raucherentwöhnung bei Patienten mit peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit

In the development of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) as a typical manifestation of arteriosclerosis, among other factors tobacco smoking also plays an important role. Although PAOD is also commonly known as smoker’s leg, so far very little research has been carried out on smoking cessation in PAOD patients. This article elucidates the scientific evidence on the association between tobacco consumption or withdrawal from smoking and the development of PAOD as well as the influence of strategies for giving up smoking. With reference to the S3 guidelines on “smoking and tobacco dependence: screening, diagnostics and treatment” by the working group of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF), the fundamental chances and limits of smoking withdrawal programs, behavioral therapy and pharmaceutical approaches, nicotine substitution therapy and electronic nicotine-releasing systems with reduced harmful substances to achieve abstinence from smoking are discussed.