Perioperative Repercussions of Cannabis Use—Implications for GI Endoscopy Sedation

TL;DR

This paper reviews how cannabis use affects sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures.

Contribution

The paper provides a focused review on sedation challenges related to cannabis use in GI endoscopy.

Findings

Cannabis users may require higher and unpredictable sedative doses.

Inhalational cannabis use increases airway reactivity risks.

Acute cannabis intoxication can impair informed consent and increase cardiovascular risks.

Abstract

The legalization of cannabis in multiple U.S. states and several other countries, along with its increasing social acceptance across diverse demographic and socioeconomic groups, has led to a growing number of patients presenting for interventional procedures with a history of cannabis use. Although anesthetic and sedation-related implications may be less pronounced than in major surgery, they remain clinically relevant and warrant careful consideration. Key factors include acute intoxication, chronic use, and cannabis use disorder. Cannabis users often require higher—and sometimes unpredictable—doses of propofol and other sedatives. Inhalational use is associated with airway hyperreactivity, increasing the risk of bronchospasm and, in severe cases, life-threatening laryngospasm. Acute intoxication may also impair the patient’s ability to provide informed consent. Cardiovascular manifestations, including tachycardia, hypertension, and an elevated risk of myocardial infarction, may occur depending on the timing and extent of recent cannabis exposure. Although these effects are unlikely to cause major complications during routine screening colonoscopy or diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy, advanced therapeutic procedures may pose significant challenges for sedation providers. This narrative review summarizes the chemistry, pharmacology, and sedation-related implications of cannabis use in patients undergoing sedation requiring interventional procedures, with a specific focus on GI endoscopy.

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