Heavy Cannabis Use Leads to Rare Chest Complication from Severe Vomiting
An 18-year-old with a 6-month history of chronic marijuana use developed spontaneous pneumomediastinum (air in the chest cavity) from forceful vomiting caused by cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome — only the fifth such case reported.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
An 18-year-old male with chronic cannabis use presented with chest pain, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain; CT revealed mediastinal air without esophageal perforation, consistent with spontaneous pneumomediastinum caused by CHS-related forceful vomiting. He was managed conservatively and recovered.
Key Numbers
18-year-old male; 6 months of chronic cannabis use; only 5th reported case of CHS-induced SPM; managed conservatively with bowel rest, IV antibiotics, and supportive care
How They Did This
Single case report with CT imaging, esophagram confirmation, conservative management, and literature review of the CHS-SPM association.
Why This Research Matters
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum can mimic life-threatening conditions like esophageal perforation — recognizing CHS as a cause can prevent unnecessary invasive procedures and guide appropriate management.
The Bigger Picture
As CHS prevalence grows with increasing cannabis use, emergency physicians should add CHS to the differential for young patients presenting with chest pain and mediastinal air.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report; cannot establish prevalence; may be underreported; conservative management typical for SPM regardless of cause; no long-term follow-up reported; cannabis use history based on patient report.
Questions This Raises
- ?How often does CHS cause pneumomediastinum?
- ?Should all young patients with SPM be screened for cannabis use?
- ?Does the severity of CHS-induced vomiting predict complication risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Single case report contributes to an emerging pattern but provides the lowest level of clinical evidence.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026; adds to a small but growing case series.
- Original Title:
- Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.
- Published In:
- Cureus, 18(1), e101979 (2026)
- Authors:
- Jafry, Baqir, Chillag, Shawn
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08357
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CHS cause dangerous complications?
Yes — forceful vomiting from CHS can cause spontaneous pneumomediastinum (air leaking into the chest cavity), which presents with chest pain and shortness of breath. This is the 5th reported case of this complication.
What is spontaneous pneumomediastinum?
It occurs when air leaks from the lungs or airways into the space around the heart (mediastinum), typically from forceful coughing or vomiting. While usually manageable conservatively, it must be distinguished from more dangerous conditions like esophageal perforation.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08357APA
Jafry, Baqir; Chillag, Shawn. (2026). Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.. Cureus, 18(1), e101979. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.101979
MLA
Jafry, Baqir, et al. "Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.." Cureus, 2026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.101979
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Sy..." RTHC-08357. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/jafry-2026-spontaneous-pneumomediastinum-and-cannabinoid
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.