Cannabis Abuse Raises Risks Of Stroke And Blood Clots Related To Surgery: Study

Can too much high lead to higher risks of surgery complications?

Yes, it can. That's according to a study recently published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Surgery. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston concluded that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) have an increased risk of perioperative complications.

CUD is often described as the continued use of cannabis despite negative experiences and withdrawal symptoms (akin to nicotine). The most common cannabis withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, poor mood, agitation, and sleep problems.

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The research, conducted by the university's McGovern Medical School, goes in line with previous findings that also reveal cannabis users could have different post-operative symptoms. For example, some studies show:

• Adults who use cannabis have more — not less — postoperative pain.
• Marijuana users are at greater risk of amputation one year after lower extremity bypass surgery.
• Pot enthusiasts might require more anesthesia, highlighting the importance of disclosing your cannabis use with the doctors before any surgery.

Highlights

• The study, cited by CNN Health, analyzed 12,422 patients after major elective, noncardiac surgery from the 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample database.
• After major surgery, people with CUD have a higher chance of experiencing a stroke, blood clots, kidney problems, respiratory failure, and even death. 
• The slight difference — a 7.73% higher risk for those with the disorder compared with a 6.57% risk for patients who didn’t have the disorder — is still significant, the authors noted.
• Three in 10 users develop a clinically significant CUD and have higher hospital bills than people without the disorder, even though the length of staying in a hospital was about the same.
• Pharmacologic effects of cannabinoids may contribute to increased risk of perioperative complications (i.e., bronchial hyperreactivity, cannabis withdrawal syndrome, immunosuppression, and interaction with perioperative medications), researchers noted

Doctors should screen patients for marijuana use prior to surgeries, the authors advised.

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Photo: Courtesy of Olga Kononenko on Unsplash