Cardiovascular side effects related with use of synthetic cannabinoids "bonzai" : two case reports

Information about the effects of synthetic cannabinoids "bonzai" on the cardiovascular system is limited. In this article, two patients in whom different cardiological side effects were observed following use of synthetic cannabinoids 'bonzai' were presented. Our first patient who was a 16-year old boy presented to pediatric emergency department with severe chest pain which had started one hour before. On electrocardiographic examination, ST segment elevations greater than 3 mm were observed in DII, DIII, AVF and V5-V6 derivations which caused to suspicious myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization was performed and coronary angiographic findings were found to be normal. When the patient was questioned again, it was learned that he used synthetic cannabinoid 'bonzai'. The second patient who was aged 18 years and addicted to synthetic cannabinoid 'bonzai' was brought to our emergency department by his friends because of clouding of consciousness. Dopamine treatment was started in the patient whose cardiac apical beat reduced to 40/min and who was found to develop hypertension, because bradycardia worsened. However, the blood pressure increased rapidly and dopamine treatment was stopped. Heart rate and blood pressure monitoring was continued. Use of synthetic cannabinoids 'bonzai' should be kept in mind in patients who present to emergency departments with chest pain and complaints related with the cardiovascular system.