Cannabis Use Disorder Associated With Postoperative Complications in Adolescents: Study

The number of adolescents who underwent inpatient surgery and were also identified as having cannabis use disorder increased between 2009-2022, and those with accompanying cannabis use disorder were more likely to experience postoperative complications, according to a study published in the June 2024 Pediatrics. The study, “Trends in Adolescent Comorbid Cannabis Use Disorder and Postoperative Complications,” published online May 6, analyzed national data on 558,721 adolescents ages 10 through 17 who underwent inpatient surgery over the 13-year period. Of the total population, researchers found 2,604 adolescents were diagnosed with cannabis use disorder – a number that increased from .4% in 2009 to 0.6% in 2022. Researchers found that the adjusted odds of respiratory complications, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and extended hospital stay were significantly higher in adolescents with cannabis use disorder than those without. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes cannabis use disorder as an inability to stop using marijuana, despite the adverse impact on health and social life. Acute and chronic cannabis use have important implications for the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, respiratory, thermoregulatory, and coagulation systems, according to the study. Cannabis use also can interact with anesthetic and analgesic medications. The authors suggest enacting a universal preoperative screening for cannabis use in children due to its increasing prevalence and surgical implications. 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.