A woman with chronic vomiting from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome developed dangerously low potassium levels that had to be corrected before she could undergo jaw fracture surgery.
Read this if you use cannabis regularly and have unexplained vomiting or are scheduled for surgery.
Severe hypokalemia from weeks of daily CHS vomiting
What the researchers found
A 42-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with a jaw fracture. Her lab work revealed dangerously low potassium and metabolic alkalosis caused by weeks of chronic vomiting, multiple times daily. The vomiting was attributed to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).
The CHS had to be addressed before her jaw surgery could proceed. Treatment involved fluid resuscitation, antiemetic medications, and marijuana cessation. Once her electrolytes normalized and vomiting stopped, she was able to undergo surgical repair of her mandibular fracture.
The authors emphasized that the dental and surgical communities should be aware of CHS, especially as cannabis legalization expands. They noted the paradox that while cannabis is known for its antiemetic properties, it can produce the opposite effect in some chronic users.
Why it matters
CHS can create medical complications that interfere with other treatments. This case illustrates how chronic vomiting from CHS caused electrolyte imbalances severe enough to delay necessary surgery, highlighting the condition's broader medical impact.
The numbers in context
One patient, age 42. Severe hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis from weeks of daily vomiting. Treatment required fluid resuscitation before surgical repair could proceed.
How the study worked
Single case report documenting CHS presentation in a surgical patient, with discussion of clinical implications for the dental community.
What this study cannot tell us
Single case report with no ability to generalize. The patient had comorbid conditions (hypertension, myasthenia gravis) that may have complicated the picture.
How to read the evidence
Single case report documenting CHS complications in a surgical context.
When this study was published
Published in 2015 as CHS was gaining wider recognition.
The bigger picture
As cannabis legalization expands, medical and dental professionals are encountering CHS more frequently. Cases like this one demonstrate that CHS is not just a gastrointestinal issue but can affect surgical planning and overall patient safety.
Questions still open
- How often does CHS go unrecognized in surgical patients? Should pre-surgical screening include questions about cannabis use patterns? Could CHS-related electrolyte imbalances pose risks during anesthesia?
Common questions
Can CHS affect your ability to have surgery?
Is the dental community aware of CHS?
Read the original research
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 73(10), 1907-10
Citation
Beech, Robert A; Sterrett, David R; Babiuk, James; Fung, Henry. (2015). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.. Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 73(10), 1907-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2015.03.059
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