Effect of cannabis abuse over spinal anaesthesia: A case series

Abstract

Introduction: In the modern world, drug abuse is one of the fastest emerging social issues. Cannabinoid receptor agonists are becoming increasingly popular as abused substance due to their ease of cultivation and availability. Case report: We present a series of three cases who were scheduled for lower limb surgeries planned under spinal anaesthesia. All patients were consuming either cannabis or its products regularly for significant time periods. All subjects were reported with an experience of either failed or delayed effect after the block. Conclusion: The study concluded that the incidence of failure of the spinal anaesthesia seemed to be higher in the cannabis abusers than among the non-abusers. There was a slower onset and decreased duration of both sensory and motor block in addict patients, with increase requirements of doses of anaesthetic and analgesic agents as compare to non-addict patients.

Keywords

• cannabis abuse
• spinal anaesthesia
• cannabinoid receptors
• failed block
• delayed effect