How Marijuana Affects Surgery ⬇️

Cannabis use before surgery can affect heart rate, airway stability, and how anesthesia works. That is why disclosure matters.

❤️ Raises heart rate and affects hemodynamics
THC stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and increases catecholamine activity, raising heart rate and sometimes blood pressure shortly after use. Clinical guidance notes this effect is most pronounced within the first 2 hours and may increase perioperative cardiac risk, including myocardial infarction in susceptible patients.

🌬️ Irritates the airways
Smoked cannabis can cause airway inflammation, cough, wheeze, and bronchial hyperreactivity. This can increase the risk of bronchospasm and make airway management more difficult during intubation or deep sedation. Surgical guidelines note this may complicate breathing-tube placement (PMID: 31384188).

💉 Makes anesthesia less predictable
Cannabis affects anesthetic response through multiple pathways:
• Some studies show higher propofol requirements in cannabis users
• Chronic use may alter tolerance to sedatives and analgesics
• Acute use can cause tachycardia and unstable hemodynamics
• Smoking adds airway effects that edibles do not
This combination makes induction and dosing less predictable (PMID: 33661987).

⚠️ Timing and frequency matter
Recent use carries different risks than chronic use. The closer cannabis is used to surgery, the more pronounced the cardiovascular and airway effects may be.

Follow @doctorsoood to improve your health IQ and for similar content.

#marijuana #cannibis #Surgery #Medical #anesthesia