Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, has grown in popularity over the years. But are users aware of the potential risks, especially when it comes to surgery?
According to new research by UTHealth Houston, habitual cannabis users face a higher risk of complications during and after surgical procedures.
Numbers Speak Volumes
A staggering 16.3 million people were diagnosed with Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) in 2021, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines CUD as a condition where people can’t quit using cannabis, despite it causing problems with their health and social lives.
The research discovered that patients with CUD are around 20% more likely to have significant post-surgery complications compared to those without CUD.
The Hidden Risks
Dr. Paul Potnuru, the first author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, cautions about the overlooked risks.
“A lot of patients first meet healthcare when they need surgery. Many also have unknown health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Cannabis use is a health concern too. It may not be as harmless as people think; it can seriously affect your health,” he says.
Unpacking the Data
The researchers delved into the National Inpatient Sample Database, where they analyzed over 62,110 hospitalizations from major elective inpatient surgeries carried out in the United States from 2016 to 2019.
According to their findings, patients with CUD had a higher risk of postoperative complications.
These included heart problems (myocardial ischemia), kidney injury, stroke, breathing failure, blood clots, hospital-acquired infections, and complications related to the surgical procedure itself.
On top of this, the hospital stay cost was higher for patients with CUD compared to those without it.
How Rising Cannabis Use Affects Surgery Safety
With an increasing number of people using cannabis and the growing potency of cannabis products, there’s a real safety concern for regular users undergoing surgery.
The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine released new guidelines earlier this year.
It recommends screening all patients for cannabis use before surgery and informing them about the heightened risk of adverse outcomes.
Dr. Potnuru adds, “From the anesthesia perspective, cannabis users may need higher doses of anesthetic medications during surgery.
They can also experience higher pain levels after surgery and require more opioids. Doctors need to know the level of a patient’s cannabis usage to tailor the amount of medications given and to closely monitor for complications.”
In a Nutshell
Regular cannabis use can lead to increased risks before, during, and after surgery. Hence, it’s crucial for doctors to be aware of a patient’s cannabis usage to ensure better surgical outcomes.
If you care about pain, please read studies that vegetarian women have a higher risk of hip fracture, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies that Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people, and the study shows the most effective drugs for common neuropathic pain.
The study was published in JAMA Surgery.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
