Smoking not only has harmful effects on general health but can also increase the risk when having anaesthesia and surgery. Smoking is associated with heart disease, peripheral vascular (blood vessel) disease and multiple types of cancer, including lung, throat, and oesophagus (food tube) and bladder cancer.It can also cause emphysema and chronic bronchitis.mokers have a decreased ability to carry oxygen in the blood, however ceasing smoking for more than 12 hours greatly improves the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. There is also evidence of increased respiratory complications during and after general anaesthesia in children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.