Preoperative Preparation and Guidelines for Cannabis-Using Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery

Appropriate preoperative screening techniques are needed to safely provide anesthesia to increasing numbers of cannabis using surgical patients. This was a quasi-experimental quality improvement project. Preoperative identification of cannabis users by registered nurses (RNs) and certified registere...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of perianesthesia nursing 2023-08, Vol.38 (4), p.560-563
Main Authors: Stover, Joseph, Sabol, Valerie K., Eastman, Aaron, Simmons, Virginia C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anesthesia
cannabis
elective surgery
marijuana
perioperative assessment
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Summary:Appropriate preoperative screening techniques are needed to safely provide anesthesia to increasing numbers of cannabis using surgical patients. This was a quasi-experimental quality improvement project. Preoperative identification of cannabis users by registered nurses (RNs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) was compared to baseline identification rates. CRNAs’ compliance with evidenced base guidelines was recorded. Perioperative medication requirements were recorded and compared between cannabis-users and noncannabis users. Identification of cannabis users by CRNAs conducting preanesthetic assessments increased from 4.08% to 14.36% while RN identification improved from 11.22% to 13.81%. Compliance with identification guidelines was 69.2% among CRNAs. There were no differences in anesthetic requirements, complications, or postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay between cannabis users and nonusers. Preoperative identification of cannabis users allows for safer, more effective perioperative care by CRNAs, registered nurses, and surgical staff.
ISSN:1089-9472
1532-8473
DOI:10.1016/j.jopan.2022.10.002