The prevalence of nausea and vomiting in pediatric patients receiving home parenteral nutrition.

We have observed that many home parenteral nutrition (HPN) recipients experience nausea, vomiting, or both during cyclic parenteral nutrition infusions. The current investigation was performed to determine the prevalence and course of these symptoms and effectiveness of therapeutic maneuvers. Eighty-nine recipients of HPN were contacted and 53 families (60%) responded. Thirty-five patients (66%) reported complaints of nausea, vomiting, or both associated with their HPN infusion. Patients with cancer (82%) or cystic fibrosis (83%) reported symptoms at similar rates, while patients with gastrointestinal disease (46%) reported symptoms less often (p < .05, chi-square). Within each diagnostic group, prevalence of symptoms did not vary with age. The majority of patients were symptomatic in the morning when being weaned or soon after completing the HPN infusion. Response rates to a variety of therapies were also similar. In conclusion, nausea and vomiting associated with cyclicHPN infusions appear to be common. The precipitating events and efficacy of interventions await identification and prospective evaluation.