Antiemetics Flashcards
Define nausea.
subjective feeling of the need to vomit; unpleasant; sometimes emesis isn’t preceded by nausea
Define vomiting.
involves contractions of the ileum and jejunum which move their contents back towards the stomach, the glottis closes to protect the airway, and the diaphragm contracts, the pharyngeal sphincters relax, the abdominal muscles contract which creates increased intraabdominal pressure that compresses the stomach; with open upper esophageal sphincters, emesis occurs
Define retching.
occurs when the same process happens, but the stomach is empty, no stomach contents are expelled
Define regurgitation.
Esophageal sphincters are not completely closed allowing stomach contents to pass into esophagus in setting of elevated abdominal pressure, no forceful expelling of stomach contents (no vomiting)
What is an example of regurgitation?
excessive mask ventilation
What is vomiting center?
controls vomiting & retching; located within the nucleus of tractus solitarius & parts of reticular formation in medulla oblongata
What are neurotransmitters that are involved in the vomiting center?
Neurotransmitters that activate or inhibit vomiting center: acetylcholine, dopamine, histamine, substance P, & serotonin
Review vomiting center components.

What is the Chemoreceptor Trigger Zone (CTZ?
located in the area postrema on the floor of 4th ventricle in the brain, lies outside the blood-brain barrier
What can the Chemoreceptor Trigger Zone (CTZ) detect?
CTZ can detect agents & relay signals to the vomiting center where the mechanical act of vomiting is stimulated
Where does the vomiting center send impulses?
Mechanical act of vomiting activated by vomiting center
When activated, vomiting center sends impulses (efferent signals) via CN V, VII IX, X, & XII; transmits efferent signals from the vomiting center to motor fibers GI & spinal nerves to diaphragm & abdomen to elicit vomiting
What are other ways to activate the vomiting center?
can also be activated by vestibular apparatus, thalamus, cerebral cortex, & neurons within GI tract
What is the definition of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)?
Defined as having nausea or emesis within 24 hours of a surgical procedure

Along with pain, _______ is a major issue that contributes to patient satisfaction
PONV
What is the occurance of PONV?
Can occur up to 40% of patients untreated, 80% for high-risk patients
What are antiemetics targets of?
Numerous neurotransmitters and receptor sites serve as a target for antiemetic medications
What are patient risk factors for PONV?
- Women
- Nonsmokers
- Hx PONV
- Hx of motion sickness
What are surgical risk factors for PONV?
- Surgery > 1 hr
- GYN, laparotomy/laparoscopy, ENT, breast, plastics, orthopedics
- Peds: incidence starting at age 3 - herniorrhaphy, T&A, strabismus, male genitalia
What are anesthetia risk factors for PONV?
- Inhaled anesthetics
- Nitrous oxide
- Neostigmine
- Opioids
What are the properties of PONV?
- Prevention easier than treatment
Use __________ for prevention and treatment PONV
multimodal approach (multiple drugs targeting multiple receptor sites)
Review components of the multimodal aprroach to PONV prevention and treatment.

What is the anticholinergic used for PONV?
Scopolamine
What is the drug class of Scopolamine?
Anticholinergic (antimuscarinic): tertiary amine (crosses the blood brain barrier)
