Nausea and Vomiting Flashcards
1
Q
Causes of nausea and vomiting
A
-
Pharyngeal irrtatation
- oral/esophageal candidiasis
- tenacious sputum
-
Gastric irritation
- PUD
- Gastritis
-
Gastric stasis
- OPioids
- ACH
- hepatomegaly
- gastric outlet obstruction
- autonomic dysfunction (anorexia-cachexia)
-
Stretching of GI tract
- constipation
- MBO
- mesenteric metastases
-
Infection
- bacterial, viral, fungal infxn in AIDS/HIV
-
Medications
- opioids (30% of patients)
- cytotoxic drugs
- SSRI
- antivirals
- antibiotics
- any drug
-
Metabolic causes
- hyerpcalcemia
- renal failure
- liver failure
- DM
-
Raised intracranial pressure
- primary tumour/mets
- cerebral infections (HIV AIDS)
-
Movement induced
- vestibular disorders
- traction on tumor in mesentery/viscera
-
Psychosomatic causes
- anxiety
- pain
- Anticipatory nausea
-
Tumour induced
- Autonomic dysfunction
- cytokines
2
Q
Assessment of nausea and vomiting (History)
A
- Medications
- full review of systems
- past medical hx (PUD, gastritis)
- meaning of nausea and vomiting
- Triggers or alleviating factors
- frequency (can lead to dehydration, OIN)
- Nature of vomitus (feculent, hematemesis)
- Vomiting without nausea = proximal bowel obstruction or raised ICP
- Neuro or cognitive changes
- numerical analog scale rating
3
Q
Physical exam for Nausea and vomiting
A
- dehydration / volume status
- abnormalities of the GI tract
- constipation
- hepatomegaly
- obstruction
- signs of raised ICP or CNS infection
4
Q
Laboratory investigations for nausea and vomiting
A
- Cr, urea
- hypercalcemia
- Hyponatremia
- Hypomagnesemia
- liver failure
- Blood glucose
- Abdominal Xray
5
Q
Nausea defintion
A
- Subjective sensation
- Unpleasant expression of autonomic stimulation
- pallor, diaphoresis
- salivation
- signals imminent vomiting
6
Q
Chemoreceptor Trigger Zone
A
- functional entity in area postrema on floor of fourth ventricle
- area postrema : medulla oblongata
- circumventricular organ with permeable capillaries and sensory neurons that enable dual role to detect circulating chemical messengers in blood and transduce them into neural signals
- transmits to VC
- Outside BBB
- bathed by systemic circulation
- D2 receptors in area postrema stimulated by high concentrations of emetogenic substances
- medications or metabolic disturbances
- 5Ht3
- cannabinoids
7
Q
Receptor pathways and neurotransmitters chart
A
8
Q
Vomiting centre
A
- Not a specific anatomical entity
- diffuse network in medulla oblongata that gathers input and acts as a central pattern generator for the vomiting reflex
- H1, AchM, 5HT2
- receives input from
- CRTZ (D2, 5HT3)
- Vagal and sympathetic afferents (D2, 5HT4)
- liver, gut, pharynx
- vestibular nuclei (H1, M)
- Cortex (H1)
- Stimulation causes parasympathetic and sympathetic output as well as neurotransmitter cascade to induce vomiting
- Nausea without vomiting may be stimulation of VC without sufficient amplification to trigger vx.
9
Q
Antiemetic medications and side effects : Vomiting Centre
A
-
Antihistamine/Anticholingeric
- cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine (drowsy, dry mouth, constipation)
-
Anticholingergic
- Hyoscine hydrobromide (scopolamine) : EPS, dry mouth, constipation, sedation, hypotension
-
Serotonin antagonists
- ondanstron, granisetron, tropistetron : expensive, HA, constipation
- metoclopramide high doses : drowsiness, EPS
10
Q
Antiemetic medications and side effects: CRTZ
A
-
Dopamine antagonists (D2)
- haldol : EPS
- butyrophenones : EPS
- phenothiazines (methotrimpeprazine, prochlorperazine) : EPS, sedation
- Prokinetics metoclopramide : EPS
- Domperidone (Does not cross BBB) : less EPS
-
Serotonin antagonists
- ondansetron
- metoclopramide at high doses
-
Cannabinoids
- Dronabinol
- Nabilone : euphoria, dysphoria, anxiety, mania, tachycardia, dry mouth, appetite
11
Q
Antiemetic medications and side effects: Gut receptors and vagus nerve
A
-
Dopamine antagonists
- butyrophenones HALDOL : eps
- Phenothiazines (prochlorperazine, methotrimeprazine) : EPS, sedation
- Prokinetics (domperidone, metoclopramide) : EPS
-
Serotonin antagonists
- ondanstron
- metoclopramide at high doses
12
Q
Antiemetic medications and side effects: vestibular nuclei
A
-
Anticholingeric
- scopolamine (hyoscine hydrobromide) : sedation, dry mouth, constipation, delirium, IOP, urinary retention)
-
Antihistamines / anticholinergics
- Cyclizine, diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate
- Phenothiazine (methotrimep, prochlorperazine)
13
Q
Antiemetic medications and side effects: Cortex
A
- Antihistamines/ anticholingerics
- Anxiolytics
- benzos
- Cannabinoids
- nabilone, dronabinol
- Corticosteroids
- dex
14
Q
Dosages and routes of administration of anti-emetics
A
-
Metoclopramide
- 30-60 mg / day up to 120 mg/day
- q4-6 h ATC and hourly if needed
- oral, SC, IV
-
Haldol
- 0.5-5 mg/day div bid
- QHS, BID, q1h prn
- oral, sc, IV
-
Prochlorperazine
- 5-10 mg po, 10-20 mg rectally
- q4h ATC and q1h prn
- oral, rectal
-
Domperidone
- 10 mg
- q4h -q6h ATC and q1h prn
- oral
-
Cyclizine
- 25-50 mg
- q8h
- oral, sc, rectal
15
Q
Non pharmacological approaches to nausea and vomiting
A
- avoid sight or smell of triggering food / odours
- small frequent bland meals
- good oral hygiene
- fresh air, calm environment
- distractions
- sitting upright after a meal
- acupuncture
- acupressure (pericardium P6 or Neiguan acupoint on anterior surface of forearm 3cm proximal to wrist crease)
- Psychological techniques not studied
16
Q
Hypercalcemia of malignancy
A
- 10-40% cancer patients, myeloma, breast, lung, renal cancers
- Bone mets 20% of hypercalcemia
- PTH protein secretion 80% hypercalcemia
- nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness, polydipsia, polyuria, somnolence, confusion, agitation, anorexia