Non-pharmacological management for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer:a scoping review

Objective:This review aimed to map and summarize published studies that tested non-pharmacological management for chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting(CINV).Methods:We searched for eligible studies in 5 electronic databases and screened the retrieved studies using the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Data were then collated according to the types of interventions,measurement tool,and outcomes.Results:The search yielded 2343 records,of which 11 were included.Four categories of non-pharmacological CINV management were made;manipulative and body-based therapy(n=5 studies);mind–body therapy(n=3 studies);biologically based practice(n=1 study),and energy therapy(n=2 studies).Seven different scales were used to measure CINV.Nine studies repor ted improvement in CINV.Conclusions:This scoping review demonstrates the breadth of non-pharmacological management to address CINV.Various types of CINV scales were used to measure CINV severity.The management and scale can be utilized to improve nursing care,par ticularly in cancer care.

Effect of music therapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in gastrointestinal cancer:A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer,but it has many adverse reactions,particularly nausea and vomiting.Music therapy can reduce anxiety symptoms,avoid the response to the human body under various stress conditions through psychological adjustment,and improve the adverse reactions of chemotherapy.AIM To investigate the impact of music therapy on relieving gastrointestinal adverse reactions in chemotherapy for patients with digestive tract cancer by metaanalysis.METHODS EMBASE,PubMed,OVID,WoS,CNKI,CBM,and VIP database were all used for searching relevant literature,and the efficacy after treatment was combined for analysis and evaluation.RESULTS This study included seven articles.The results of meta-analysis indicated that music therapy could reduce the nausea symptom score of patients after chemotherapy[mean difference(MD)=-3.15,95%confidence interval(CI):-4.62 to-1.68,Z=-4.20,P<0.0001].Music therapy could reduce the vomiting symptom score of patients after chemotherapy(MD=-2.28,95%CI:-2.46 to-2.11,Z=-25.15,P<0.0001).Furthermore,music therapy could minimize the incidence of grade I and above nausea or vomiting in patients after chemotherapy(odds ratio=0.38,95%CI:0.26-0.56,Z=-4.88,P<0.0001).Meta-regression analysis found that publication year was not a specific factor affecting the combined results.There was no significant publication bias(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Music therapy can significantly improve the scores of nausea and vomiting symptoms in patients with digestive system cancer during chemotherapy and reduce the incidence of grade I and above nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy,making it an effective psychological intervention method worthy of clinical promotion.

Patterns of antiemetic prophylaxis for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in China

Background： Few studies have attempted to evaluate the use of antiemetic therapy for chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting （CINV） at a national level in China or to assess how treatment regimens adhere to current guidelines. Methods： We searched the China Health Insurance Research Association （CHIRA） Database to identify patients with cancer who were 〉 18 years old and received either moderately or highly emetogenie chemotherapy （MEC and HEC, respectively） between 2008 and 2012. Patients＇ characteristics as well as usage of specific antiemetic regimens were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results： Of the 14,548 patients included in the study, 6,477 received HEC while 8,071 were treated with MEC. Approximately 89.9% used antiemetics prophylactically to prevent acute CINV and 71.5% for delayed CINV while 9.0% were prescribed antiemetics as rescue therapy. A significantly lower proportion of patients treated with HEC received prophylactic antiemetic therapy for delayed CINV as compared to those treated with MEC （59.4% vs. 81.3 %; P〈0.001）. The HEC group had a slightly lower proportion of patients using a mixed regimen containing a 5-HT3 antagonist to prevent both acute and delayed CINV than the MEC group （P〈0.012）; however, a higher proportion received a mixed regimen containing eorticosteroids （P≤0.007）. Although more than half of the patients in the HEC group took three antiemeties to prevent acute and delayed CINV, these rates were significantly lower than those of the MEC group （both P〈0.001）. Finally, analysis of the regimens used revealed that there is over-utilization of drugs within the same class of antiemetic. Conclusions： These findings indicate that more attention is needed for treatment of delayed CINV, in terms of both overall use and the components of a typical treatment regimen.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with palonosetron on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a single.blind,randomized, controlled trial

Background: Chemotherapy?induced nausea and vomiting adversely affects the quality of life of patients who receive chemotherapy via intravenous infusion or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE). This study aimed to investigate the clinical effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS) on nausea and vomiting after TACE.Methods: A total of 142 patients who received TACE with cisplatin for primary or metastatic liver cancer were assigned to the active?acupuncture(n = 72) or placebo?acupuncture(n Hegu(LI4), Neiguan(P6), an= 70) groups using a covariate?adaptive randomization at a ratio of 1:1. The acupointsd Zusanli(ST36) were stimulated twice daily for 6 days. The effects of TEAS on nausea and vomiting were assessed by using occurrence rate and severity of these symptoms. Anorexia scale and M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory(MDASI) scores were secondary endpoints and were used to assess the effect of TEAS on patient appetite and quality of life. The safety of the treatments was also monitored.Results: Between the two groups, the differences in occurrence rates and severities of nausea and vomiting after TACE were not significant(all P > 0.05). From the second day after TACE, anorexia scores were significantly lower in the active?acupuncture group than in the placebo?acupuncture group and continued to decrease over time with treat?ment(all P values less than 0.01). On days 0, 1, and 2, the mean MDASI scores for the active?acupuncture group were slightly lower than those for the placebo?acupuncture group, but the differences were not statistically significant(all P > 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the occurrence rate of any adverse event(P > 0.05).Conclusion: TEAS appears to be a safe and effective therapy to relieve patients' gastrointestinal discomfort after chemotherapy.

Evaluation of Adherence to Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Guidelines. An Observational Study

Objective: To describe the prescribing trends of antiemetics in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), assess adherence to American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines, and evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed antiemetics. Additionally, we also sought to explore barriers that hinder clinical practice guideline (CPG) implementation. Methods: One hundred fifty-five patients between the ages of 18 and 60 who were admitted to the haematology/oncology department/clinic to receive intravenous chemotherapy, either as in-patients or outpatients, were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Relevant patient demographic data, chemotherapy protocols and antiemetics were collected. Chemotherapies were classified according to their emetogenic potential. This information was used to assess whether the antiemetic prescribed matched the emetogenic risk of treatment. The analysis of outcomes was performed using the MASCC antiemetic assessment tool. Key Findings: The results showed that 95% of antiemetic prescription pre-chemotherapy regimens did not adhere to the guidelines. The findings were use of twice the recommended dose of granisetron (87.7%), overuse granisetron (16%) and metoclopramide (62.6%), and underuse dexamethasone (27%) and corticosteroid duplication (7.7%). With respect to post-chemotherapy antiemetic prescriptions, 91% of prescriptions were not adherent to guidelines, with overuse of granisetron (81.9%) and metoclpramide (34.2%) and underuse of dexamethasone (66.5%) being the most frequently reported trends. Conclusion: This study shows a lack of conformity to antiemetic guidelines, resulting mainly in overtreatment. Although vomiting was well-managed, nausea remains under controlled and requires additional medical attention. The lack of knowledge and motivation are considered barriers to CPG implementation.

Controlling Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting with Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists in Patients on AC-Based Chemotherapy—Are We There Yet?

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are distressing side effects of chemotherapy. Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists (NK1-RAs) have been incorporated in the contemporary management of CINV. However, clinical studies on NK1-RAs have shown mixed results in reducing CINV risk. Most studies focused on the use of aprepitant (APR) and casopitant (CAS) in breast cancer patients receiving AC-type (doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy. In this study, we compared the study design and clinical efficacies of these NK1-RAs in reducing CINV risk. Among the selected eight studies, 4 APR Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), 2 APR Observational Studies (OSs) and 2 CAS RCTs were identified. Patient-related characteristics such as the proportion of females (60.0% - 100.0%), age (46.5 - 59.5 years), histories of motion (5.6% - 47.0% in NK1-RA arms) and morning sicknesses (14.2% - 45.0% in NK1-RA arms) and types of antiemetic regimens;as well as chemotherapy-related characteristics such as the proportion of patients on AC chemotherapy (15.0% - 100.0%) varied greatly. In terms of efficacies, both APR and CAS improved overall CR and vomiting in majority of the studies. None of the studies, however, demonstrated that NK1-RA could provide adequate nausea control. To conclude, NK1-RAs are effective in improving vomiting and overall CR, but not useful in controlling nausea or attaining CC, the ideal CINV endpoint. A shift in paradigm is needed for future CINV research. As healthcare providers continue to strive for optimum CINV control in their patients, we hope this review can help them make better informed clinical decisions.

Auricular therapy for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients:Perspectives from the traditional zang-fu organs and meridians theory

This paper presents the theoretical background of using auricular therapy(AT)for managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting(CINV)from the perspectives of traditional zang-fu organs and meridian theory.The zang-fu organs of stomach,spleen and liver play a crucial role in regulating the gastrointestinal functions.The chemotherapeutic agents can significantly impede the gastrointestinal functions and subsequently contribute to various gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea and vomiting.Dysfunctions of the stomach,spleen and liver can correspond to specific auricular acupoints,while by stimulating those acupoints,the chaotic Qi movement can be reversed to its normal status,and the hyperactivities of the gastrointestinal system can also be alleviated to reduce the CINV symptoms.Clinical studies based on such theory have well supported the effects of AT on CINV.However,relationships between the traditional theory and the modern medicine understanding of the CINV mechanisms remain unknown and should be further explored in future research.

Neiguan(PC6) acupoint stimulation for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a cost-effective supplement in guideline-inconsistent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting prophylaxis subgroup

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Neiguan(PC6) acupoint acustimulation in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting(CINV),especially for patients with guideline-inconsistent CINV prophylaxis(GICP) due to personal reasons METHODS: From January 2021 to December 2021, 373 patients suffered from solid malignancy were recruited according to the inclusion criteria. Complete response(no emesis and no rescue medication use) rate during the overall phase(0-120 h of each chemo-cycle) was the primary assessment of CINV control. The Functional Living Index-Emesis(FLIE) questionnaire was investigated among these patients as a secondary 'quality of life' objective to assess the impact of CINV on patients' daily life by recording score of nausea and vomiting. RESULTS: With acustimulation of Neiguan(PC6) acupuncture point through a portable, noninvasive and user-friendly device, in terms of complete response rate and scores in nausea/vomiting by FLIE questionnaire, patients achieve a better outcome in highly emetogenic chemotherapy(HEC) induced CINV, especially GICP subgroup. Meanwhile, analysis also demonstrated this tendency existed in other patients with HEC/GCCP(guideline consistent CINV prophylaxis) and moderate emetogenic chemotherapy, although the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Considering advantages of Neiguan(PC6) acustimulation such as noninvasive, covered by medical insurance and few side effects, we believe it would be an ideal auxiliary tool in CINV control, especially in patients who receive highly emetogenic chemoprotocol and are reluctant to GCCP for economic reasons.

Validation of different personalized risk models of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting:results of a randomized,double-blind,phase III trial of fosaprepitant for cancer patients treated with high-dose cisplatin

Background:Highly emetogenic chemotherapy induces emesis in cancer patients without prophylaxis.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fosaprepitant-based triple antiemetic regimen for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting(CINV)in patients with solid malignant tumors,determine risk factors and externally validate different personalized risk models for CINV.Methods:This phase III trial was designed to test the non-inferiority of fosaprepitant toward aprepitant in cancer patients who were to receive the first cycle of single-day cisplatin chemotherapy.The primary endpoint was complete response(CR)during the overall phase(OP)with a non-inferiority margin of 10.0%.Logistic regression modelswere used to assess the risk factors ofCRand no nausea.To validate the personalized risk models,the accuracy of the risk scoring systems was determined by measuring the specificity,sensitivity and area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC),while the predictive accuracy of the nomogram was measured using concordance index(C-index).Results:A total of 720 patients were randomly assigned.CR during the OP in the fosaprepitant group was not inferior to that in the aprepitant group(78.1%vs.77.7%,P=0.765)with a between-group difference of 0.4%(95%CI,-5.7%to 6.6%).Female sex,higher cisplatin dose(≥70 mg/m2),no history of drinking and larger body surface area(BSA)were significantly associated with nausea.The AUC for the acute and delayed CINV risk indexes was 0.68(95%CI:0.66-0.71)and 0.66(95%CI:0.61-0.70),respectively,and the C-index for nomogram CINV prediction was 0.59(95%CI,0.54-0.64).Using appropriate cutoff points,the three models could stratify patients with high-or low-risk CINV.No nausea and CR rate were significantly higher in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group(P<0.001).Conclusions:Fosaprepitant-based triple prophylaxis demonstrated non-inferior control for preventing CINV in patients treated with cisplatin-base chemotherapy.Female cancer patients without a history of alcohol consumption,with larger BSA and received high-dose cisplatin might be more vulnerable to CINV.Three personalized prediction models were well-validated and could be used to optimize antiemetic therapy for individual patients.

A preliminary discussion on rules of clinical acupoint selection of acupuncture for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Objective To preliminarily investigate the rules of acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting by retrospecting pertinent literature from 1986 to 2013. Methods Literature of clinical studies on acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting published from 1986 to 2013 in CNKI, Wanfang and VlP databases and in PubMed database were retrieved. Data were analyzed statistically via Excel. Results One hundred and nineteen articles retrieved were related to the study. Based on the current literature analysis, meridians selected for acupuncture and moxibustion on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting were mainly the stomach meridian, the pericardium meridian, the conception vessel, the spleen meridian and bladder meridian; point combination was applied more in prescription, accounting for 73.11%, while single point was applied less, only accounting for 26.89%. There were numerous methods for point combinations, but proximal and distal point combination was the most widely used method, accounting for 20.93%. Meanwhile, main acupoints selected were mostly Zusanli （足三里 ST 36）, Neiguan （内关 PC 6）, Zhongwan （中脘CV12）, Gongsun （公孙SP 4） and Taichong （太冲 LR 3） and point combinations were mainly Shenmen （神门 HT 7）, Geshu （膈俞 BL 17）, PishB （脾俞 BL 20）, Weishu （胃俞 BL 21） and Jianli （建里 CV 11）. Conclusion Acupoints selection on acupuncture and moxibustion for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting shows a certain rules that the meridians selected are mainly stomach meridian, pericardium meridian and conception vessel and acupuncture points selected are normally ST 36, PC 6 and CV 12, proximal and distal point combination is applied more, while single point applied less.

Propofol with Varied Functions: A Potential Therapeutic Opportunity for Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting and Pruritus—A Narrative Review

Background: Despite the advances in anesthetics and non-pharmacological techniques, the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in all patients remains high. It is one of the most common distressing symptoms that cause dissatisfaction among patients after anesthesia and surgery. A sub-hypnotic dose of propofol has been shown to reduce morphine-induced postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. This review article will provide sufficient knowledge on the role of propofol in minimizing opioid-induced postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus by providing detailed information on propofol antiemetic and antipruritic effects, as well as discussions based on empirically available data. Method: We conducted a narrative review of the literature published between 1990 and 2023 from a range of databases;PubMed, BioMed Central, Biosis Previews, Nature, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Springer-Link, and Elsevier. Discussion and Conclusion: The literatures reviewed in this study have demonstrated that propofol may have diverse therapeutic effects including antiemetic and antipruritic. The antiemetic effect of propofol may be an effective therapeutic approach for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The literature also demonstrated that the use of propofol for sedation during surgery may as well ameliorates opioids induced postoperative pruritus, which may be beneficial to surgical patients. Also, it was demonstrated that prophylactic use of propofol may be an effective way of preventing nausea and vomiting and pruritus during opioid use.

Association between operative position and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

BACKGROUND Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective ways to treat morbid obesity,and postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV)is one of the common complications after bariatric surgery.At present,the mechanism of the high incidence of PONV after weight-loss surgery has not been clearly explained,and this study aims to investigate the effect of surgical position on PONV in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.AIM To explore the effect of the operative position during bariatric surgery on PONV.METHODS Data from obese patients,who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG)in the authors’hospital between June 2020 and February 2022 were divided into 2 groups and retrospectively analyzed.Multivariable logistic regression analysis and the t-test were used to study the influence of operative position on PONV.RESULTS There were 15 cases of PONV in the supine split-leg group(incidence rate,50%)and 11 in the supine group(incidence rate,36.7%)(P=0.297).The mean operative duration in the supine split-leg group was 168.23±46.24 minutes and 140.60±32.256 minutes in the supine group(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that operative position was not an independent risk factor for PONV(odds ratio=1.192,95%confidence interval:0.376-3.778,P=0.766).CONCLUSION Operative position during LSG may affect PONV;however,the difference in the incidence of PONV was not statistically significant.Operative position should be carefully considered for obese patients before surgery.

Acupoint selection rules in treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting with acupuncture and moxibustion

Objective:To analyze the acupoint selection rules in acupuncture treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting(CINV)in China through data mining technology.Methods:The relevant literature on acupuncture treatment for CINV were searched from SinoMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang,VIP and Pubmed databases from the establishment to January 3,2021 and the worksheet was set up for the information extraction of acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions.Using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 and SPSS Modeler 18.0 software,cluster analysis and association rule analysis were conducted to explore the rules of acupoint selection.Results:A total of 179 articles were eligible,including 206 acupuncture prescriptions and 64 acupoints.The total use frequency of acupoints was 784 times.The acupoints with the highest use frequency were Zúsānlǐ(足三里ST36),Zhōngwǎn(中脘CV12)and Nèiguān(内关PC6).The commonly used meridians included stomach meridian of foot-yangming,conception vessel,pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin and bladder meridian of foot-taiyang.The acupoints located on the chest,the abdomen and the lower limbs were mostly selected.Five-shu points and crossing points were highly involved in terms of the specific points.The most common combination was ST36,CV12 and PC6.Conclusion:In treatment of acupuncture for CINV,the acupoints were generally selected from stomach meridian of foot-yangming,conception vessel,pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin.Front-mu points on the chest and the abdomen,the he-sea points and lower he-sea points in the lower limbs are commonly used.The core acupoint prescription of acupuncture for CINV included ST36,CV12 and PC6.

The Effects of Acupressure on Vomiting, Stress, and Anxiety in Chinese Pregnant Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Objective:To investigate the role of acupressure therapy in helping pregnant women with HG reduce the frequency or severity of vomiting and relieve stress and anxiety.Method:A quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design and non-equivalent group design was used.Sixty-six valid data points were obtained from pregnant mothers diagnosed with HG in a general hospital in Linyi City.These pregnant women received either acupressure(n=33)or general therapeutic care(n=33).They completed standardized questionnaires designed to assess vomiting,anxiety,and stress levels.Results:Data showed no differences between the experimental and control groups before the intervention.After the intervention,there were significant differences in anxiety(P≤0.05)and stress(P≤0.05)scores between the two groups.However,there was no significant difference in vomiting scores(P>0.05)between the two groups after the intervention.The anxiety and stress scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group post-intervention,while the vomiting scores of the two groups were similar.Conclusion:The findings suggest that acupressure significantly reduces anxiety and stress in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum(HG)and also helps reduce vomiting.Acupressure presents a viable clinical option for pregnant women seeking relief from HG symptoms.

Effect of anesthesia induction with butorphanol on postoperative nausea and vomiting:A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV)are common complications that affect the recovery and well-being of elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery.AIM To investigate the effect of butorphanol on PONV in this patient population.METHODS A total of 110 elderly patients(≥65 years old)who underwent gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to receive butorphanol(40μg/kg)or sufentanil(0.3μg/kg)during anesthesia induction in a 1:1 ratio.The measured outcomes included the incidence of PONV at 48 h after surgery,intraoperative dose of propofol and remifentanil,Bruggrmann Comfort Scale score in the postanesthesia care unit(PACU),number of compressions for postoperative patientcontrolled intravenous analgesia(PCIA),and time to first flatulence after surgery.RESULTS The results revealed a noteworthy reduction in the occurrence of PONV at 24 h after surgery in the butorphanol group,when compared to the sufentanil group(T1:23.64%vs 5.45%,T2:43.64%vs 20.00%,P<0.05).However,no significant variations were observed between the two groups,in terms of the clinical characteristics,such as the PONV or motion sickness history,intraoperative and postoperative 48-h total infusion volume and hemodynamic parameters,intraoperative dose of propofol and remifentanil,number of postoperative PCIA compressions,time until the first occurrence of postoperative flatulence,and incidence of PONV at 48 h post-surgery(all,P>0.05).Furthermore,patients in the butorphanol group were more comfortable,when compared to patients in the sufentanil group in the PACU.CONCLUSION The present study revealed that butorphanol can be an efficacious substitute for sufentanil during anesthesia induction to diminish PONV within 24 h following gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery in the elderly,simultaneously improving patient comfort in the PACU.

Summary of the Best Evidence for the Evaluation and Management of Chemotherapy-Related Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients

Objective: To summarize the best evidence for the evaluation and management of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, so as to promote the standardized management of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Methods: A computer search was conducted for all evidence on chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting interventions, including guidelines, expert consensus, best clinical practice information booklet, recommended practice, evidence summary, and systematic review. The search period is from April 30, 2022. After the literature quality evaluation, the evidence extraction and summary of the literature meeting the quality standards. Results: A total of 16 literatures were included, including 9 guidelines, 5 systematic reviews and 2 expert consensus papers. 46 pieces of best evidence on the assessment and management of chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients were summarized, including 6 aspects including risk assessment and management, non-drug management, drug management, multidisciplinary cooperation, education and training, and health education. Conclusion: This study summarized the current best evidence on the assessment and management of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Clinical staff should apply evidence according to specific clinical scenarios, professional skills and patients’ wishes in order to reduce the degree and incidence of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients and improve the quality of care.

Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Elective Hysterectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Outcomes Trial of Aprepitant NK-1-Receptor Antagonist

Objectives: Current prophylactic interventions fail to completely eliminate postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) for a substantial number of patients. A new antiemetic (aprepitant) has been effective in preventing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). We hypothesized that adding aprepitant to our current prophylactic regimen of dexamethasone and ondansetron would reduce the incidence of PONV in our elective hysterectomy population. Methods: 256 patients undergoing elective hysterectomy were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled trial. Subjects received either oral aprepitant 40 mg or oral placebo 30 minutes prior to induction of standardized anesthesia. The primary outcome was vomiting within the first 24 hours after surgery. Postoperative nausea, vomiting, and use of rescue antiemetics were documented over a 24 h period. Additionally, adverse events, hospitalization days, and readmissions for PONV were compared. Results: There was a trend towards reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the aprepitant group. Nausea and vomiting were noted for 24% and 17% of women in the aprepitant group versus 38% and 29% of women in the Placebo group, respectively. Supplemental antiemetic medication was used by 42% of women in the aprepitant group versus 60% of women in the Placebo group. No adverse events were substantially more common in the aprepitant group than the Placebo group. Conclusions: Preemptive use of aprepitant prior to elective hysterectomy may reduce the incidence of PONV and diminish the need for rescue antiemetics postoperatively. Further studies with larger power are needed to confirm the trends observed in this study.

Stimulation of the P6 Acupuncture Point for Prophylaxis of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnant Women Submitted to Cesarean Section: A Blinded Clinical Trial

In pregnant women subjected to spinal anesthesia for a Cesarean section, episodes of nausea and vomiting are common both during and following surgery. Acupuncture for the prophylaxis and treatment of these complications has been gaining in popularity due to its low cost, simplicity, absence of side effects and confirmed efficacy. This study investigated the efficacy of stimulating the P6 acupoint in conjunction with the use of dexamethasone as prophylaxis for nausea and vomiting in pregnant women submitted to spinal anesthesia for a Cesarean section. The patients (n = 100) were randomly distributed into two groups. In the first group (n = 50), a site located one centimeter laterally from P6 was stimulated. This is not a true acupuncture point (sham acupuncture). In the second group (n = 50), P6 was stimulated. In both groups, 4 mg of dexamethasone were administered intravenously. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on the occurrence of nausea and vomiting during surgery and in the first 12 hours postpartum. The chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to assess differences between the groups. Age and physical status were similar in both groups. The incidence of nausea during surgery was 32% (n = 16) in the control group and 22% (n = 11) in the P6 group (p > 0.05). In the first 12 hours following surgery, nausea occurred in 16% of the women in the control group (n = 6) and in 4% in the P6 group (n = 4) (p = 0.045). The incidence of vomiting in the control group was 12% (n = 6) during surgery and 10% (n = 5) in the postoperative period compared to 8% (n = 4) and 4% (n = 2), respectively, in the P6 group (p > 0.05). Although these differences were not statistically significant with the exception of the incidence of nausea in the first 12 hours postpartum, a reduction occurred in the incidence of all the outcomes evaluated in the P6 group.

The selection rules of acupoints and meridians of traditional acupuncture for postoperative nausea and vomiting:a data mining-based literature study

Background:Postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV)refers to a problem commonly occurring after surgery.Acupuncture is considered a critical complementary alternative therapy for PONV.The acupoints selection critically determines the efficacy of acupuncture,whereas the selection rules remain unclear.The objective of the present study was to delve into the principles of acupoints selection for PONV using data mining technology.Methods:The clinical trials assessing the acupuncture effect for PONV were searched with the use of computer in PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,and Chinese Biomedical Database;the time span was confined as 2009–2019.The database of acupuncture prescriptions for PONV was built using Excel 2016;the description and association were analyzed by IBM SPSS modeler 18.Result:Eighty-three relevant literatures were screened out.The number of specific acupoints took up 72.5%of all acupoints;specific acupoints exhibited the frequency taking up 91.30%of the total frequency.As revealed from the result,Neiguan(PC 6),Zusanli(ST 36),Hegu(LI 4),and Zhongwan(CV 12)were most frequently applied,suggesting the tightest associations.Most acupoints were taken from the stomach meridian and pericardium meridian.The common acupoints were concentrated in the lower limbs,chest,as well as abdomen.Conclusion:Data mining acts as a feasible method to identify acupoints selection and compatibility characteristics.As suggested from our study,the acupoints selection for PONV prioritizes specific acupoints and related meridians.The selection and combination of acupoints comply with the theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

Intraoperative systemic vascular resistance is associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic hysterectomy

BACKGROUND The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV)in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy is very high compared with other surgeries,even when many prophylactic measures have been taken.However,the pathogenesis of PONV is multifactorial.Female sex,a history of motion sickness or PONV,nonsmokers,and perioperative opioid use are the most closely related factors.Among the multiple risk factors,suboptimal gastrointestinal(GI)perfusion may be attributed to some cases of PONV,and increased systemic vascular resistance(SVR)may lead to GI ischemia.The hypothesis of this research was that SVR is related to PONV.AIM To investigate the relationship between SVR and PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy.METHODS A total of 228 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic hysterectomy were included in this prospective observational study.SVR was monitored using a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring system.Four indices of SVR,the baseline,mean,area under the curve(AUC),and weighted AUC,were used for analysis.The incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting were evaluated while patients were awake and throughout the intervals from 0 to 2 h,2 to 6 h,and 6 to 24 h starting upon arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit.The associations between various SVR indices and PONV were investigated by logistic regression.P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS The incidence of PONV in the study was 56.14%(128/228),and PONV tended to appear within 6 h after surgery.Five variables were significant in univariate analyses,however,only SVR mean[odds ratio(OR)=1.015,95%CI:1.005-1.109,P=0.047]and duration of surgery(OR=1.316,95%CI:1.003-2.030,P=0.012)were associated with PONV after logistic regression analysis.Furthermore,patients with high SVR mean were more likely to suffer from PONV after laparoscopic hysterectomy.On average,patients who developed PONV needed more time to tolerate diet and demonstrated poorer sleep quality on the first night after surgery.CONCLUSION In this study,PONV was a common complication after laparoscopic hysterectomy.SVR was associated with PONV,and high SVR mean was associated with a significantly increased risk of PONV.