School of Medicine Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2025
Abstract
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition marked by recurrent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in chronic cannabis users. Rarely, severe vomiting can lead to complications such as spontaneous pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and pneumoretroperitoneum. We present a case of a 21-year-old woman with CHS who developed a rare triad of spontaneous pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and pneumoretroperitoneum. Initial findings raised concern for Boerhaave syndrome; however, imaging ruled out esophageal perforation. The patient was managed conservatively with bowel rest, intravenous fluids, electrolyte correction, antiemetics, and antibiotics, resulting in full recovery. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges in distinguishing CHS common nonserious complications from more serious conditions and underscores the importance of prompt imaging. It also emphasizes the need for increased awareness of rare air leak syndromes in CHS and further research into their pathophysiology and optimal management.
Recommended Citation
Ali, K., Shah, A. M., Hyder, A., & Balderas, V. (2025). Triple Air Leak Syndrome in Cannabinoid Hyperemesis: A Diagnostic Challenge Managed Conservatively. ACG Case Reports Journal, 12(10), e01858. https://doi.org/10.14309/crj.0000000000001858
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Publication Title
ACG Case Reports Journal
DOI
10.14309/crj.0000000000001858
Academic Level
faculty
Comments
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.