Controlled postoperative red wine intake versus abstinence in habitual wine drinkers undergoing elective urological surgery (WISE): a translational randomized controlled trial assessing quality of life, surgical outcomes and complications.
Umberto Capitanio, Giuseppe Basile, Cristina Barrasso et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-center randomized controlled trial compared postoperative abstinence with standardized red wine intake in habitual wine drinkers undergoing elective urological surgery. Participants assigned to wine received 150 mL of 13% v/v red wine with lunch and dinner from postoperative day 1 through day 30. The primary outcome, change in SF-36 Mental Health Index (MHI), did not differ significantly: mean change was -0.6 with abstinence and +0.7 with wine (between-group difference 1.3 points; 95% CI -1.9 to 4.6; p = 0.4). Complications, readmissions, hospital stay, blood parameters, and oxidative stress markers also showed no meaningful differences.
Key findings
- MHI change was -0.6 with abstinence and +0.7 with wine (difference 1.3 points; 95% CI -1.9 to 4.6; p = 0.4).
- Overall complications were 16.1% with abstinence versus 9.8% with wine (p = 0.4).
- Thirty-day readmissions were 8.1% with abstinence versus 0% with wine (p = 0.06).
- Blood parameters and oxidative stress markers showed no clinically relevant differences between groups.
Why it matters
The trial addresses whether continuing controlled alcohol intake after surgery improves recovery among habitual wine drinkers. It found no significant quality-of-life benefit and no meaningful differences in complications or measured biological outcomes. These results help distinguish evidence about postoperative alcohol use from assumptions that it improves recovery, while the study’s population and setting limit broader conclusions.
What to keep in mind
The trial was single-center and involved predominantly older male habitual wine drinkers undergoing elective urological surgery, limiting generalizability.