There is no evidence from human studies that NRT increases the risk of healing-related or cardiovascular complications in the perioperative period, and consistent evidence that tobacco interventions that include NRT reduce complications. Nolan MB, Warner DO. Safety and Efficacy of Nicotine Replacement Therapy in the Perioperative Period: A Narrative Review. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Nov;90(11):1553-61.
Another review of the evidence supporting the safety of NRT in surgical patients. Kim Y, Chen TC: Smoking and nicotine effects on surgery: Is nicotine replacement therapy (nrt) a safe option? Ann Surg 2021; 273: e139-e141
Nicotine replacement therapy is safe in patients with cardiovascular disease. Joseph AM, et al. The safety of transdermal nicotine as an aid to smoking cessation in patients with cardiac disease. N Engl J Med 1996; 335:1792–8
Nicotine patches, when used to promote smoking cessation, significantly reduce the extent of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. Mahmarian JJ, Moye LA, Nasser GA, Nagueh SF, Bloom MF, Benowitz NL, Verani MS, Byrd WG, Pratt CM: Nicotine patch therapy in smoking cessation reduces the extent of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. J Am Coll Cardiol 1997; 30:125–30