Search

Growing cannabis use among young adults in the United States surpasses research and public understanding, raising health concerns despite potential benefits. Limited research focuses on their knowledge, attitudes, risks, and motivations, especially in states with limited legalization. This study explores cannabis knowledge and attitudes among healthy young adult cannabis consumers to understand their risk and benefit perceptions. Data include a subsample of participants in the Herbal Heart Study, a cohort to examine subclinical cardiovascular risk among healthy young adult (18–35 years old) cannabis consumers and non-consumers. A qualitative thematic analysis of the interviews was performed using a deductive approach driven by the theory of the Health Belief Model to generate categories and codes. Dedoose was used to organize transcripts and coding. A total of 22 young adult cannabis consumers (M age = 25.3, SD = 4.4) were interviewed between May 5, 2021- September 23, 2022. Participants were predominantly female (n = 13) and Hispanic (n = 9) or non-Hispanic Black (n = 7). Five themes were identified: perceived health benefits and risks associated with cannabis use, motivation for cannabis use, knowledge of cannabis, and perceived barriers to cannabis use. Participants discussed knowledge, positive/negative attitudes toward cannabis, and perceived risks/benefits based on personal experience and gathered information. Some showed knowledge deficits, and most wanted more health-related cannabis research. Given the current climate of rising cannabis legalization, availability of novel cannabis products, and societal acceptance, further research and evidence-based cannabis literacy for young adults are essential to keep pace with liberalization trends.

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic plastic surgery procedures in the world. Although serious complications are rare, intra-abdominal complications such as bowel perforation are one of the most common causes of death after liposuction. We present a case series of six patients who sustained intra-abdominal injuries from liposuction. The acute care surgery (ACS) faculty at a single institution were surveyed for patients. Six patients were identified over a three-year period. The average age was 45 years, and all patients were female. All six underwent a cosmetic procedure in addition to their liposuction. Four (67%) had previous abdominal surgery, and five (83%) were overweight or obese. All patients presented with abdominal pain, tachycardia, and leukocytosis. All six underwent exploratory laparotomies: four patients had small bowel enterotomies, one had cecal volvulus and abdominal compartment syndrome, and one had fascial violation. They underwent an average of four ACS procedures (range 1 to 11) and had an average hospital LOS of 29 days (range 5 to 60) and an average ICU LOS of 11 days (range 1 to 39). Intra-abdominal injuries are a rare complication of liposuction; however, a high index of suspicion must be maintained to diagnose and treat these life-threatening injuries.

The prognosis of advanced/metastatic GISTs has improved significantly through treatment with a combination of neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and surgical resection. However, GISTs often show variable response to neoadjuvant therapy and there are currently no well-established guidelines for some of the management decisions faced by both medical and surgical oncologists. We present two cases of patients with advanced duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors who developed tumor-bowel fistulas while on neoadjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. Both patients experienced tumor progression while on neoadjuvant therapy as well as treatment-related complications, including the formation of a fistula connecting the tumor and bowel lumen. This phenomenon has seldom been mentioned in the existing literature, and has rarely been discussed as a life-threatening complication of tyrosine kinase therapy. We use these cases to elucidate an under-recognized treatment-related complication and to discuss the highly complex medical and surgical decision-making process when treating advanced GISTs. We aim to convey the rationale supporting a more aggressive surgical approach, when appropriate, as well as to emphasize the importance of strong medical and surgical collaboration for these cases.