Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cartridge ingestion

Abstract

We present the case of a 16-year-old male who ingested the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil filled cartridge of a vape pen. With the recent increasing incidence of vaping related illnesses there is a significant focus on the hazards of the increasing use of e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and other inhalation devices in teens and adolescents. A recent study found that 28% of high school students and 11% of middle school students had used an e-cigarette in the past month which has increased from 11.7% in 2017 furthermore, approximately 10% had vaped cannabis . While swallowing the cartridge is a unique complication that applies to these devices it is one that may become more prominent as the popularity of vaping continues to increase among high school students. Although the cartridge was passed without incident there were a number of possible complications, both medical and legal, that might have occurred in this situation, such as severe intoxication, bowel perforation and felony drug conviction.