Marijuana Use Increases the Risk of Postoperative Bleeding in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Body Contouring

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes
• Cannabinoid Research

Background:

• Increasing marijuana use necessitates understanding its impact on surgical outcomes.
• Previous research on marijuana's physiological effects is extensive, but its surgical implications are not well-defined.
• Abdominal body contouring surgeries, including abdominoplasties and panniculectomies, are increasingly common.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between marijuana consumption and postoperative complications in patients undergoing abdominal body contouring procedures.
• To identify specific risks related to marijuana use in this surgical population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 815 patients undergoing abdominal body contouring from 2016-2021.
• Data included demographics, marijuana use status (active, former, never), comorbidities, tobacco use, and postoperative complications within 90 days.
• Statistical analysis to determine the risk of complications associated with marijuana use.

Main Results:

• 7.5% of patients were active marijuana users, 3.8% former users, and 88.7% never users.
• Any history of marijuana use was linked to an increased risk of complications (OR=1.96; p=0.006).
• Active marijuana users showed a significantly higher risk of hematoma formation (OR=3.02; p=0.013).

Conclusions:

• Active marijuana use is a significant risk factor for postoperative hematoma after abdominal body contouring.
• Routine preoperative screening for marijuana use is crucial for identifying at-risk patients.
• Tailored risk-reduction strategies should be developed for marijuana-using patients to enhance surgical safety.