Scoping review maps what is known about cannabis use around surgery
Cannabis users may have altered pain processing, higher anesthetic requirements, and risk of withdrawal syndrome after surgery, but the evidence base remains small and heterogeneous.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The review identified several perioperative concerns for cannabis users: potential increased anesthetic requirements, altered post-operative pain processing, cannabis withdrawal syndrome risk, and cardiovascular effects. However, the number of available studies is small and study designs are markedly heterogeneous.
Key Numbers
The review does not provide pooled statistics due to the heterogeneity of available studies, instead presenting a qualitative synthesis organized by perioperative phase and organ system.
How They Did This
Narrative scoping review examining published studies on cannabis use in the perioperative period, supplemented by literature on cannabis physiology outside the surgical context.
Why This Research Matters
With increasing cannabis use, anesthesiologists and surgeons encounter cannabis users regularly but have little evidence-based guidance. Understanding the perioperative implications is essential for patient safety.
The Bigger Picture
The perioperative period represents a high-stakes gap in cannabis research. Patients may not disclose use, and clinicians may not know what to do with the information even when they have it.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Scoping review limited by small number of available studies with heterogeneous designs. Many recommendations are extrapolated from non-surgical cannabis physiology studies. No meta-analysis possible.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should surgical patients be screened for cannabis use preoperatively?
- ?How should anesthetic protocols be adjusted for chronic cannabis users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Limited evidence base
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: scoping review identifies important clinical questions but limited by small heterogeneous evidence base.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- The Impact of Perioperative Cannabis Use: A Narrative Scoping Review.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 4(4), 219-230 (2019)
- Authors:
- Ladha, Karim S(4), Manoo, Varuna, Virji, Ali-Faizan, Hanlon, John G, Mclaren-Blades, Alexander, Goel, Akash, Wijeysundera, Duminda N, Kotra, Lakshmi P, Ibarra, Carlos, Englesakis, Marina, Clarke, Hance
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02121
Evidence Hierarchy
Maps out the available research on a broad question.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stop using cannabis before surgery?
This review identifies potential concerns including altered pain processing and withdrawal risk, but notes the evidence is limited. The study does not provide specific cessation recommendations.
Can cannabis use affect anesthesia?
Some evidence suggests chronic cannabis users may require higher doses of certain anesthetics, though the clinical significance and optimal management approach are not well established.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02121APA
Ladha, Karim S; Manoo, Varuna; Virji, Ali-Faizan; Hanlon, John G; Mclaren-Blades, Alexander; Goel, Akash; Wijeysundera, Duminda N; Kotra, Lakshmi P; Ibarra, Carlos; Englesakis, Marina; Clarke, Hance. (2019). The Impact of Perioperative Cannabis Use: A Narrative Scoping Review.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 4(4), 219-230. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0054
MLA
Ladha, Karim S, et al. "The Impact of Perioperative Cannabis Use: A Narrative Scoping Review.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0054
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Impact of Perioperative Cannabis Use: A Narrative Scopin..." RTHC-02121. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ladha-2019-the-impact-of-perioperative
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.