University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository
Specialty
Thoracic Surgery
Advisor
Doctor Munsell
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to highlight that marijuana consumption is a modifiable risk factor in Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax. A search of scholarly articles in PubMed was conducted using the search terms 'marijuana', 'pneumothorax', and 'case study'. The additional search parameters included free articles published in English within the last five years. This search yielded sixteen articles, from which three relevant case studies were selected for this paper. Expansion of the search parameters did not yield large participant studies or systematic reviews. Findings suggest that consumption of marijuana is a contributive factor in spontaneous pneumothorax, along with other factors such as smoking tobacco, underlying lung disease, and genetic predisposition. These case studies outline the need for further research of the mechanism by which marijuana affects the lung tissue, outside of barotrauma. Healthcare providers should consider discussing the potential respiratory risks associated with marijuana use when counseling patients at risk for pneumothorax.
Recommended Citation
Bosch D. Marijuana Consumption and Spontaneous Pneumothorax. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2026; 8(1).
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