A 16-Year-Old Who Used Synthetic Cannabis for 3 Years Developed a Perforated Duodenal Ulcer
A case report described a 16-year-old boy who developed a perforated duodenal ulcer after 3 years of regular synthetic cannabinoid ("bonsai") use, requiring emergency surgery.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This case report described a 16-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with abdominal distension, pain, and bilious vomiting. He had been regularly using synthetic cannabinoids ("bonsai") for 3 years.
Imaging revealed free air under the diaphragm, indicating perforation. Emergency surgery (laparotomy) found a perforation in the first part of the duodenum. Surgical repair with an omental patch (Graham patch) was successful, and the patient recovered without complications.
The authors attributed the peptic ulcer disease and perforation to the chronic effects of synthetic cannabinoids on gastric secretion and gastric emptying, noting that this is a rarely recognized complication.
Key Numbers
Patient age: 16. Duration of synthetic cannabinoid use: 3 years. Perforation location: first part of duodenum. Repair: Graham patch. Outcome: uncomplicated recovery.
How They Did This
Single case report with clinical description, imaging findings, surgical intervention, and postoperative follow-up.
Why This Research Matters
Gastrointestinal perforation is a life-threatening complication that is not typically associated with substance use in adolescents. This case highlights that chronic synthetic cannabinoid use can produce serious gastrointestinal complications beyond the better-known CHS.
The Bigger Picture
This case adds gastrointestinal perforation to the growing list of serious adverse effects from chronic synthetic cannabinoid use. Emergency clinicians encountering unexplained peptic ulcer disease in adolescents should consider substance use, particularly synthetic cannabinoids, as a possible contributing factor.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
A single case report cannot establish a causal relationship between synthetic cannabinoid use and duodenal perforation. The patient may have had other risk factors for peptic ulcer disease. The specific synthetic cannabinoid compounds used were not identified.
Questions This Raises
- ?How common are gastrointestinal complications from chronic synthetic cannabinoid use?
- ?Do natural cannabis products carry the same gastrointestinal risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 3 years of synthetic cannabinoid use preceded life-threatening duodenal perforation
- Evidence Grade:
- This is a single case report providing anecdotal evidence of a possible association between synthetic cannabinoid use and gastrointestinal perforation.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016. Awareness of synthetic cannabinoid gastrointestinal effects has grown since then.
- Original Title:
- Unusual side effect of cannabis use: acute abdomen due to duodenal perforation.
- Published In:
- International journal of emergency medicine, 9(1), 18 (2016)
- Authors:
- Buyukbese Sarsu, Sevgi
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01116
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can synthetic cannabis cause stomach problems?
Synthetic cannabinoids can affect gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying. This case report describes a severe complication (duodenal perforation), though this appears to be rare. More common gastrointestinal effects of synthetic cannabinoids include nausea and vomiting.
Is this the same risk with natural cannabis?
This case involved synthetic cannabinoids, which are much more potent than natural cannabis. While cannabis can cause gastrointestinal effects (including hyperemesis syndrome), the specific complication of duodenal perforation has not been commonly associated with natural cannabis use.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01116APA
Buyukbese Sarsu, Sevgi. (2016). Unusual side effect of cannabis use: acute abdomen due to duodenal perforation.. International journal of emergency medicine, 9(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-016-0114-7
MLA
Buyukbese Sarsu, Sevgi. "Unusual side effect of cannabis use: acute abdomen due to duodenal perforation.." International journal of emergency medicine, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-016-0114-7
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Unusual side effect of cannabis use: acute abdomen due to du..." RTHC-01116. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/buyukbese-2016-unusual-side-effect-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.