Cannabis Use: Change in Screening for Primary Care Preoperative Clearance

Patients are required to obtain preoperative screening 30 days before elective surgery with an emphasis on testing and screening tools to identify patients at risk for perioperative, intraoperative, and postoperative complications. Surgical complications are being reported in patients who have recently consumed cannabis before surgery. As cannabis use becomes more prevalent for both medicinal and recreational reasons, the lack of evidence-based guidelines for preoperative screening in the primary care setting and surgical setting is problematic. To prevent surgical complications, advanced practice registered nurses must obtain a thorough cannabis history with education on abstaining from use before elective surgery.