PowerPoint presentation of emesis in pregnancy given at resident presentation, obstetrics and gynecology directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
risk factors, symptoms, management of severe vomiting with dehydration and weight loss in pregnancy
3. INTRODUCTION
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)
Defined as excessive vomiting in pregnancy with no known cause which leads to
fluid, electrolyte, nutritional and weight losses, usually requires hospitalization for
management.
First coined by Antoine Dubois “ pernicious vomiting of pregnancy”
Not considered physiological
4. EPIDEMIOLOGY
Prevalence of 0.3 to 3% of all pregnancies
Risk factors
Young mothers
Nulliparous
Past medical history
Family history
Non Caucasian
Non smokers
High SES
5. AETIOLOGY
Research ongoing, exact causal relationship is unknown
Considered a multifactorial etiology:
Hormones
Genetics
Psychiatric background
Helicobacter pylori
6. Hormones
Human chorionic gonadotrophin
In singleton pregnancies, no direct correlation
In high order pregnancy and molar pregnancies correlation exists
Need to rule out this with serum BHCG and early pregnancy
ultrasound
Progesterone
Causes reduced gastric smooth muscles contractility, leads to
gastric dysrhythmias
7. Hormones cont’d
Estrogen
Usually in obese women with high estrogen levels
Decrease gastric emptying and intestinal transit time
However HG have faster intestinal motility time
8. GENETICS
Family history of disease
25% of Patients requiring total parenteral nutrition
19% sister
28% mother
9% two relatives with HG
Higher prevalence in families strongly support a genetic predisposition
9. PSYCHIATRIC BACKGROUND
The historic perspective of Etiology of HG
2017 Norwegian large study: Depression had odds of 1.49 of HG
However 2/3rds of participants with HG had no history of depression
Only 1.2% of participants with history of depression had HG
Conclusion: Depression may not be associated, however HG may be the cause of
psychiatric illness such as depression, anxiety, PTSD
10. Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori an independent risk factor for vomiting in pregnancy
However not conclusive in HG
ACOG recommends H. pylori eradication in refractory cases of HG
11. NATURAL HISTORY
Onset of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy usually from 4 to 7 weeks
Peaks at 9 weeks
Resolves by 20weeks in 90%
12. CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS- HISTORY
Young woman, nullip, early pregnancy, between 4 to 7 weeks
onset of excessive vomiting, retching episodes,
first or second trimester
Previous history of HG
Family history of HG
High SES
SYMPTOMS
Palpitations, dizziness, diaphoretic, weight loss (>5% of pre-pregnancy weight)
Motherisk study (PUQE) mild (3-6), moderate(6-12) and severe (greater than 13)
13. PREGNANCY UNIQUE QUANTIFICATION
OF EMESIS (PUQE)
In the last 24 hours how long
have you felt nauseated or sick
the stomach?
Not at
all 1
1 hour
or less2
2-
3hours
4-6 hours
4
More
than 6
hours
In the last 24 hours have you
vomited or thrown up?
7 or
more
times5
5-6
times4
3-4
times 3
1-2 times 2 I did
not
throw
up1
In the last 24 hours, how many
times have you had episodes of
retching or dry heaves without
bringing anything up?
No
time1
1-2
times2
3-4
times3
5-6 times 4 7 or
mor5e
14. CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
Signs: of dehydration
Patient in distress, Tachycardia, reduced skin turgor, dry skin, decreased capillary
refill time (CRT), reduced blood pressure
15. Clinical diagnosis
Objective measure of acute starvation: ketonuria on urine dipstick
Electrolye imbalances: hypochloremic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hyponatraemia
Elevation in liver function tests (LFTS), amylase, lipase enzymes
Complete blood count may show: lymphocytosis
Thyroid function tests (not routine in the presence of high suspicion of thyroid
disease such as a palpable thyroid mass)
H. pylori testing in refractory HG
Obstetric ultrasound: number of fetuses, molar or not
Serum BHCG
17. Management
Depends on the severity: Mild, moderate or severe
Supportive measures
Rehydration
Correction of electrolyte imbalances
Vitamin supplementation
Antiemetics
Psychological support
Non pharmacological support
18. Supportive measures
Keep patient NPO
Give boluses of IV N/S, R/L
Maintain of intravenous fluids with 5% dextrose
100mg of thiamine in non dextrose solution to prevent Wernickes encephalopathy
19. MEDICATIONS
Anti histamines: Doxylamine, promethazine, cinnarizine,dimenhydrinate
Anti dopaminergics: Promethazine,
Serotonin receptor antagonist
Metoclopromide, ondansetron
Non adrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (mirtazipine)
Alpha agonist: clonidine
Corticosteroids
Combined formulations: diclegis
20. DICLEGIS (DOXYLAMINE+ PYRIDOXINE)
10mg Doxylamine: Anti histamine H1 receptor blocker have sedative and emetic
properties
10mg pyridoxine for nutritional benefits
Category A drug
Role in the prevention of HG when used as preconception care
Role in nausea and vomiting
No role in treatment of HG
21. FIRST LINE MEDICATIONS
Cyclizine 50 mg PO, IM or IV 8 hourly
Prochlorperazine 5–10 mg 6–8 hourly PO; 12.5 mg 8 hourly IM/IV; 25 mg PR daily
Promethazine 12.5–25 mg 4–8 hourly PO, IM, IV or PR
Chlorpromazine 10–25 mg 4–6 hourly PO, IV or IM; or 50–100 mg 6–8 hourly PR
22. SECOND LINE MEDICATIONS
Metoclopramide 5–10 mg 8 hourly PO, IV or IM (maximum 5 days’ duration)
G
Domperidone 10 mg 8 hourly PO; 30–60 mg 8 hourly PR
G Ondansetron 4–8 mg 6–8 hourly PO; 8 mg over 15 minutes 12 hourly IV
23. THIRD LINE MEDICATIONS
Corticosteroids: hydrocortisone 100 mg twice daily IV and
once clinical improvement occurs, convert to prednisolone
40–50 mg daily PO, with the dose gradually tapered until the
lowest maintenance dose that controls the symptoms is
reached
24. METOCLOPROMIDE
Anti HT3 medication, anti dopaminergic
CNS signalling in the medullary chemoreceptor trigger zone
GIT peristalsis
Side effects
Irreversible tardive dyskinesis, worsening psychiatric symptoms, QT prolongations
Contraindication: other medication with extrapyramidal effects
25. ONDANSETRON
Category B
Selective 5HT3 receptor antagonist
Used in HG , post operative emesis, post radiation emesis, chemotherapy, etc
SE: allergic reaction, QT prolongation
CI : gastroparesis, paralytic ileus
26. PROMETHAZINE
Anti dopaminergic, weak central nervous block of dopamine and serotonin
Muscarinic block
Strong antihistaminic action
Intravenous or suppository route of administration
Category C drug
Cross placenta and secreted in breast milk. Potential but unknown neurotropic
effects on the foetus
27. MIRTAZIPINE
Used in refractory HG with pscychiatric illness such as Major Depressive Disorder.
Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic anti depressant.
Antagonizes serotonin receptors 5HT3, 5HT4
Alpha 2 receptor blocker
Histaminergic
Muscarinic
Antiemetic effect 5HT3 receptors
5HT2 effect: anxiolytic, sedative, appetite stimulating effect
Associated with fetal oral cleft defects
28. Corticosteroid
As adjunct to antiemetics,
Reduce vomiting from day 2
Category C drug
Single dose 300mg hydrocortisone with 10mg metoclopramide in refractory cases
29. IN PATIENT MANAGEMENT
Continous nausea and vomiting and inability to keep down oral antiemetics
Continous nausea and vomiting and ketonuria and or weight loss, despite oral
antiemetics
Confirmed or suspected comorbidity for example UTI, Inability to tolerate oral
antibiotics
30. Non pharmacological treatment
Role of acustimulation such as acupressure, acupuncture
Role of ginger in mild and moderate cases of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
31. COMPLICATIONS- MATERNAL
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES
Thiamine deficiency: wernickes encephalopathy: MRI demonstrates central pontine
myelinolysis
Lethargy, confusion, hyperflexia, ataxia, oculomotor symptoms: nystagmus
Early diagnosis and treatment, only minority fully recover
Vitamin K deficiency: neonatal haemorrhage
33. COMPLICATION- MATERNAL
PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS
Fear of subsequent pregnancy
76 fold of depression in HG
Persistent nausea is the symptom that most adversely affects quality of life.112,118
Furthermore, causes of stress as a consequence of NVP include lack of
understanding and support, inability to eat healthily, grief for loss of normal
pregnancy, absence from work, financial pressures, isolation, inability to care for
family, others’ belief that it is psychosomatic and reluctance of doctors to treat the
condition.
34. COMPLICATION- MATERNAL
TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION
Central line catheter infections, thrombosis, hematomas, pneumothorax, cardiac
dysrhythmias
Jejunostomy when central line fails: reports in a case study
35. COMPLICATIONS-FETAL
Termination of pregnancy in refractory cases
Low birthweight
Preterm delivery
Placental diorders: pre eclampsia, placental abruptio
36. REFRENCES
Boelig, R. C., Barton, S. J., Saccone, G., Kelly, A. J., Edwards, S. J., & Berghella, V. (2016). Interventions for treating
hyperemesis gravidarum. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (5).
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010607.pub2
Gabra, A. (2018). Updates in Management of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Crit Care Obst Gyne, 4(3), 9.
https://doi.org/10.21767/2471-9803.1000162
Mitchell-Jones, N., Gallos, I., Farren, J., Tobias, A., Bottomley, C., & Bourne, T. (n.d.). Psychological morbidity
associated with hyperemesis gravidarum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-
0528.14180
RCOG. (2016). The Management of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Retrieved
from https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/green-top-guidelines/gtg69-hyperemesis.pdf
Tamay, A. G., & Kuşçu, N. K. (2011). Hyperemesis gravidarum: Current aspect. Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, 31(8), 708–712. https://doi.org/10.3109/01443615.2011.611918
Wegrzyniak, L. J., Repke, J. T., & Ural, S. H. (2012). Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Reviews in Obstetrics and
Gynecology, 5(2), 78. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410506/
(Mitchell-Jones et al., n.d.)(Boelig et al., 2016; Gabra, 2018; RCOG, 2016; Tamay & Kuşçu, 2011; Wegrzyniak, Repke,
& Ural, 2012)