Acute Medicine | Palliative care | Assessment of nausea and vomiting

Assessment of nausea and vomiting
Session overview
Description
This session provides a framework for the assessment of nausea and vomiting as a first step to appropriate management.

This session was reviewed by Sarah Hanrott and last updated in 2023.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• outline core steps in the evaluation of a patient with nausea or vomiting, to reach a diagnosis and initiate a management plan, listing the key elements of a vomiting history
• discuss the impact of nausea and vomiting on the patient and his or her family
• take the patient's goals and priorities into account when making a treatment plan

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you may like to complete:

• Causes of nausea and vomiting (215-0415)

Nausea and vomiting are common in patients with end stage disease (cancer and non-cancer) but both symptoms can be effectively treated.

There are several possible causes of nausea and vomiting, some of which are reversible. Treatment can be guided by an assessment of the most likely cause of the symptoms.

This session focuses on the steps involved in assessing nausea and vomiting, from history-taking to physical examination and targeted investigations.

You can find out more about the causes of nausea and vomiting and the management of these symptoms in separate sessions.