Cardiovascular side effects related with use of synthetic cannabinoids "bonzai" : two case reports.
Sezen Ugan Atik, Reyhan Dedeoğlu, Fatih Varol, Halit Çam, Ayşe Güler Eroğlu, Levent Saltık
Turk pediatri arsivi March 2015 DOI: 10.5152/tpa.2015.2609 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2 |
| Population | Two male patients aged 16 and 18 years presenting to an emergency department after using the synthetic cannabinoid 'bonzai' |
| Keywords | Synthetic cannabinoids Bradycardia Myocardial infaction |
| Key findings | The authors report two cases of cardiovascular effects after synthetic cannabinoid 'bonzai' use: a 16-year-old with chest pain and ST elevations greater than 3 mm but normal coronary angiography, and an 18-year-old with bradycardia (40/min), hypertension, and clouded consciousness. They advise that synthetic cannabinoid use be considered in emergency patients presenting with chest pain and cardiovascular complaints. |
Abstract
Information about the effects of synthetic cannabinoids "bonzai" on the cardiovascular system is limited. In this article, two patients in whom different cardiological side effects were observed following use of synthetic cannabinoids 'bonzai' were presented. Our first patient who was a 16-year old boy presented to pediatric emergency department with severe chest pain which had started one hour before. On electrocardiographic examination, ST segment elevations greater than 3 mm were observed in DII, DIII, AVF and V5-V6 derivations which caused to suspicious myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization was performed and coronary angiographic findings were found to be normal. When the patient was questioned again, it was learned that he used synthetic cannabinoid 'bonzai'. The second patient who was aged 18 years and addicted to synthetic cannabinoid 'bonzai' was brought to our emergency department by his friends because of clouding of consciousness. Dopamine treatment was started in the patient whose cardiac apical beat reduced to 40/min and who was found to develop hypertension, because bradycardia worsened. However, the blood pressure increased rapidly and dopamine treatment was stopped. Heart rate and blood pressure monitoring was continued. Use of synthetic cannabinoids 'bonzai' should be kept in mind in patients who present to emergency departments with chest pain and complaints related with the cardiovascular system.