As marijuana use grows more common, a review from Durham, N.C.-based Duke University School of Medicine warns it can make surgeries and procedures riskier.
The review, published in the October 2025 issue of Current Opinions in Anesthesiology, found cannabis users may require 15% to 30% higher doses of propofol to be adequately sedated, raising the risk of undersedation and cardiovascular side effects.
“Cannabis use is a relevant factor in anesthesia planning,” lead author Ruba Sajdeya, MD, PhD, said in a Sept. 8 news release. “We’re urging clinicians to ask about it routinely and plan accordingly.”
The authors recommend more research and routine pre-operative screening for cannabis use, which is not yet standard at many hospitals, according to the release.
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