Smoking Cessation Before Bronchoscopy or CT-guided Puncture

Patients who present to our outpatient clinic for the evaluation of a concerning round lesion (V1) are asked during the medical history taking whether they currently smoke. If the question is answered affirmatively, patients are urgently advised to quit smoking immediately. Support options for smoking cessation are presented, and if desired, a connection to a smoking cessation counseling program of the Federal Institute for Public Health ('rauchfrei ticket') is established. Furthermore, nicotine dependence is assessed using the Fagerström test, while COHb is determined through blood gas analysis and cotinine is measured in urine. During the planned result discussion (V2) after the inpatient stay for histological confirmation (either via bronchoscopy or CT-guided puncture), patients are asked if they have quit smoking and COHb and cotinine are measured again. After 3 months (V3), these values will be measured conclusively. In addition, the following data will be collected and documented from the patients: age, gender, height, weight, current medication, other illnesses, and current body plethysmography. Participation in the study does not change the course of the patients' stay in our clinic.