scholarly journals Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome presentation to the emergency department: A two-year multicentre retrospective chart review in a major urban area

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 550-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy M. Hernandez ◽  
Jared Paty ◽  
Ira M. Price

AbstractObjectiveCannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a paradoxical side effect of cannabis use. Patients with CHS often present multiple times to the emergency department (ED) with cyclical nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and are discharged with various misdiagnoses. CHS studies to date are limited to case series. The objective was to examine the epidemiology of CHS cases presenting to two major urban tertiary care centre EDs and one urgent care centre over a 2-year period.MethodsUsing explicit variables, trained abstractors, and standardized abstraction forms, we abstracted data for all adults (ages 18 to 55 years) with a presenting complaint of vomiting and/or a discharge diagnosis of vomiting and/or cyclical vomiting, during a 2-year period. The inter-rater agreement was measured using a kappa statistic.ResultsWe identified 494 cases: mean age 31 (+/-11) years; 36% male; and 19.4% of charts specifically reported cannabis use. Among the regular cannabis users (>three times per week), 43% had repeat ED visits for similar complaints. Moreover, of these patients, 92% had bloodwork done in the ED, 92% received intravenous fluids, 89% received antiemetics, 27% received opiates, 19% underwent imaging, 8% were admitted to hospital, and 8% were referred to the gastroenterology service. The inter-rater reliability for data abstraction was kappa=1.ConclusionsThis study suggests that CHS may be an overlooked diagnosis for nausea and vomiting, a factor that can possibly contribute to unnecessary investigations and treatment in the ED. Additionally, this indicates a lack of screening for CHS on ED history, especially in quantifying cannabis use and eliciting associated symptoms of CHS.

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S98-S99 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Hernandez ◽  
J. Paty ◽  
I. Price

Introduction: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a paradoxical side effect of cannabis use. Patients with CHS often present multiple times to the Emergency Department (ED) with cyclical nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and are discharged with various misdiagnoses. CHS studies to date are limited to case series. We examined the epidemiology of CHS cases presenting to two major urban Tertiary Care Centre EDs. Methods: Using explicit variables, trained abstractors, and standardized abstraction forms, we abstracted data for all adults (18-55 years) with a presenting complaint of vomiting, and/or a discharge diagnosis of vomiting and/or cyclical vomiting, during a 2-year period. Inter-rater agreement was measured using a kappa statistic. Results: We identified 494 cases: mean age 31 years; 36% male; only 19.4% of charts specifically reported cannabis use. Among the regular cannabis users (>3 times per week), 43% had repeat ED visits for similar complaints. Interestingly, of these patients, 92% had bloodwork done in the ED, 92% received IV fluids, 89% received anti-emetics, 27% received opiates, 19% underwent imaging, 8% were admitted to hospital, and 8% were referred to the Gastroentorology service. Inter-rater reliability for data abstraction was kappa = 1. Conclusion: This study suggests CHS may be an overlooked diagnosis for nausea and vomiting, a factor which can possibly contribute to unnecessary investigations and treatment in the ED. Additionally, this indicates a lack of screening for CHS on ED history, especially in quantifying cannabis use and eliciting associated symptoms of CHS.


CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S24-S24
Author(s):  
D. Foster ◽  
K. Van Aarsen ◽  
J. Yan ◽  
J. Teefy ◽  
T. Lynch

Introduction: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) in pediatric patients is poorly characterized. Literature is scarce, making identification and treatment challenging. This study's objective was to describe demographics and visit data of pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected CHS, in order to improve understanding of the disorder. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients (12-17 years) with suspected CHS presenting to one of two tertiary-care EDs; one pediatric and one pediatric/adult (combined annual pediatric census 40,550) between April 2014-March 2019. Charts were selected based on discharge diagnosis of abdominal pain or nausea/vomiting with positive cannabis urine screen, or discharge diagnosis of cannabis use, using ICD-10 codes. Patients with confirmed or likely diagnosis of CHS were identified and data including demographics, clinical history, and ED investigations/treatments were recorded by a trained research assistant. Results: 242 patients met criteria for review. 39 were identified as having a confirmed or likely diagnosis of CHS (mean age 16.2, SD 0.85 years with 64% female). 87% were triaged as either CTAS-2 or CTAS-3. 80% of patients had cannabis use frequency/duration documented. Of these, 89% reported at least daily use, the mean consumption was 1.30g/day (SD 1.13g/day), and all reported ≥6 months of heavy use. 69% of patients had at least one psychiatric comorbidity. When presenting to the ED, all had vomiting, 81% had nausea, 81% had abdominal pain, and 30% reported weight loss. Investigations done included venous blood gas (30%), pregnancy test in females (84%), liver enzymes (57%), pelvic or abdominal ultrasound (19%), abdominal X-ray (19%), and CT head (5%). 89% of patients received treatment in the ED with 81% receiving anti-emetics, 68% receiving intravenous (IV) fluids, and 22% receiving analgesics. Normal saline was the most used IV fluid (80%) and ondansetron was the most used anti-emetic (90%). Cannabis was suspected to account for symptoms in 74%, with 31% of these given the formal diagnosis of CHS. 62% of patients had another visit to the ED within 30 days (prior to or post sentinel visit), 59% of these for similar symptoms. Conclusion: This study of pediatric CHS reveals unique findings including a preponderance of female patients, a majority that consume cannabis daily, and weight loss reported in nearly one third. Many received extensive workups and most had multiple clustered visits to the ED.


Author(s):  
Amreet Dhaliwal ◽  
Alison A Lopez ◽  
Jared Bullard ◽  
Vanessa Poliquin

Background: The literature suggests that the Jarisch–Herxheimer (J-H) reaction following antimicrobial treatment of syphilis is common and may precipitate uterine activity. Local practice is to transfer syphilitic parturients beyond gestational age of viability from rural locations to a tertiary care centre for treatment. Study objectives were to delineate local incidence and risk factors for the J-H reaction among pregnant women receiving treatment for syphilis. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on pregnant women diagnosed with syphilis and treated during pregnancy at a tertiary care centre between 2012 and 2018. J-H reaction was defined as having ≥1 of the following symptoms within 24 hours of antibiotic treatment: fever (temperature ≥38°C), clinical description of a painful or itchy skin lesion, headache, hypotension (systolic BP <90), uterine contractions, or fetal heart rate decelerations. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed with mean and median used as measures of central tendency for continuous and categorical data, respectively. Results: Fifty-eight charts were eligible for inclusion. Mean maternal age was 25.1 (SD 5.6) years, and mean gestational age was 20.4 (SD 9.5) weeks when syphilis was diagnosed. One patient (1/58, 1.7%) met J-H reaction criteria. Mean gestational age at delivery was 37.1 (SD 3.4) weeks. One stillbirth (1.7%) was identified. Conclusions: The J-H reaction is less common at our centre than the literature suggests. Further research is important to identify risk factors associated with J-H reaction to optimize resource allocation in the context of treatment of syphilis during pregnancy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. e31-e31
Author(s):  
Daniel Foster ◽  
Kristine Van Aarsen ◽  
Justin Yan ◽  
John Teefy ◽  
Tim Lynch

Abstract Background Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) in paediatric patients is poorly characterized. Identification and treatment of adolescents presenting to the emergency department (ED) for suspected CHS is challenging. Given the paucity of literature on paediatric CHS and the recent legalization of cannabis, it is important to gain a better understanding of this disorder. Objectives The objective of this study was to describe demographics and ED visit data of paediatric patients presenting to the ED with suspected CHS. Design/Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of paediatric patients (12-17 years) with suspected CHS presenting to one of two tertiary-care EDs; one paediatric (annual census 38,500) and one paediatric and adult (annual census 60,000) between April 2014-March 2019. Charts were selected based on discharge diagnosis of abdominal pain or nausea/vomiting with positive cannabis urine screen, or discharge diagnosis of cannabis use, using ICD-10 codes. Patients with confirmed or likely diagnosis of CHS were identified and data including demographics, clinical history, and ED investigations/treatments were recorded by a trained research assistant. Results A total of 242 patients met criteria for review. Thirty-nine were identified as having a confirmed or likely diagnosis of CHS (mean age 16.2, SD 0.85 years with 64% female), 87% were triaged as either CTAS-2 or CTAS-3 and 80% of patients had cannabis use frequency/duration documented. Of these, 89% reported at least daily use, the mean consumption was 1.30g/day (SD 1.13g/day), and all reported ≥6 months of heavy use. Sixty-nine percent of patients had at least one psychiatric comorbidity. When presenting to the ED, all had vomiting, 81% had nausea, 81% had abdominal pain and 30% reported weight loss. Investigations done included venous blood gas (30%), pregnancy test in females (84%), liver enzymes (57%), pelvic or abdominal ultrasound (19%), abdominal X-ray (19%), and CT head (5%). Eighty-nine percent of patients received treatment in the ED with 81% receiving anti-emetics, 68% receiving intravenous fluids, and 22% receiving analgesics. Normal saline was the most used intravenous fluid (80%) and ondansetron was the most used anti-emetic (90%). Cannabis was suspected to account for symptoms in 74% (with 31% of these given the formal diagnosis of CHS). Sixty-two percent of patients had another visit to the ED within 30 days (59% of these for similar symptoms). Conclusion This study of paediatric CHS reveals unique findings including a preponderance of female patients, a majority that consume cannabis daily, and weight loss reported in nearly 1/3rd. Many received extensive workups and most had multiple clustered visits to the ED.


2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P127-P128
Author(s):  
Robert L Harris ◽  
Grundy Alan ◽  
Tunde A Odutoye

Objectives Radiological balloon dilatation of lower oesophageal strictures is common practice. Other than some early reports from our own centre, there is little published regarding radiological dilatation of pharyngeal and upper oesophageal strictures and less still on radiological balloon dilatation of post-total laryngectomy and pharyngolaryngectomy neo-pharyngeal strictures. Standard practise is bouginage under general anaesthaesia. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of radiological balloon dilatation for the treatment of dysphagia secondary to neopharyngeal strictures in patients who have undergone laryngectomy. Methods A tertiary care centre case series of 20 consecutive patients (17 males and 3 females aged 40 to 84) with pharyngeal stricture and dysphagia post-total laryngectomy or pharyngolaryngectomy who underwent balloon dilatation of the stricture under radiological guidance. Maintenance of swallowing was the main outcome measure. Results 5 patients gained relief of their dysphagia with 1 balloon dilatation only. 9 patients required more than 1 dilatation to maintain swallowing. 2 patients had balloon dilatation procedures and stent insertion for palliative relief of dysphagia from known recurrent malignant disease. 3 patients failed to maintain swallowing with repeat dilatations. No patients suffered any significant complications such as perforation. Conclusions Balloon dilatation is minimally invasive and less traumatic than rigid pharyngoscopy with bouginage dilatation. It is well tolerated. It may be repeated frequently and can successfully relieve strictures of the pharynx in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy or pharyngolaryngectomy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 852
Author(s):  
Angel Shan ◽  
Mary Ellen Conway ◽  
Lindsay Machan ◽  
Laura Cormack ◽  
Nadia Branco ◽  
...  

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Cram ◽  
Shelley McLeod ◽  
Michael Lewell ◽  
Matthew Davis

AbstractObjectiveTo determine how often the Ambulance Call Record (ACR) was available to emergency department (ED) physicians and whether it contained information that changed the ED management of patients.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of adult patients transported to one of two tertiary care centre EDs. Physicians completed a data collection form for each patient regarding ACR availability and the perceived value of the ACR. This study began shortly after the implementation of a new electronic ACR (eACR) handover process (Round 1). To control for any confounding factors related to this new eACR handover process, the study was repeated 6 months after its implementation (Round 2).ResultsTotal of 869 forms were collected: 545 in Round 1, and 324 in Round 2. The ACR was available at first physician assessment for 82 (15.7%) patients in Round 1, and 76 (24.4%) patients in Round 2 (Δ8.7%, 95% CI: 3.1%, 14.5%). The ACR was available at some point during patients’ ED stay for 154 (28.9%) patients in Round 1, compared to 111 (34.5%) patients in Round 2 (Δ5.6%, 95% CI: 0.0%, 12.1%). When the ACR was available for a patient (n=265), physicians believed that information in the ACR changed their treatment plan in 76 (28.8%) cases.ConclusionPhysicians who review the ACR believe that the ACR contains relevant information that may influence patient management; however, physicians commonly manage patients without reviewing the ACR.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document