THE IMPACT OF CANNABIS USE ON PROCEDURAL SEDATION AND ANALGESIA FOR THIRD MOLAR SURGERY.

Abstract

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are providers of procedural sedation and anaesthesia (PSA) for minor outpatient procedures. The impact of cannabis use on intraoperative (depth of sedation, amount of sedative used, and operator satisfaction) and post-operative outcomes (pain, recall, and patient satisfaction) during PSA are poorly studied. A prospective observational study was designed to investigate the impact of cannabis use on quantity of sedative medication used and quality of procedural sedation for both patients and surgeons. Using a validated questionnaire, the study population of cannabis users was stratified on a continuum according to frequency and quantity of use. Additional variables measured for study and control groups included state and trait anxiety, age, gender, education level, and use of alcohol and other recreational drugs. This study was unable to demonstrate any significant differences in amount of sedative medication administered, post-operative pain, surgeon satisfaction and patient satisfaction between cannabis users and non-cannabis users undergoing extraction of 3rd molar teeth with procedural sedation using midazolam, fentanyl and ketamine.