Objectives: Patients with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) present frequently to the emergency department. Previous case studies suggest dramatic symptomatic improvement with topical capsaicin treatment. This exploratory study examined the potential effectiveness of topical capsaicin in patients with nausea and vomiting due to a suspected CHS exacerbation. Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial. Adults who presented with vomiting suspected to be from CHS were eligible for enrollment. We excluded pregnant women and those with resolution of symptoms. Following randomization, topical 0.1% capsaicin or placebo cream was applied to the anterior abdomen in a uniform manner. The primary outcome was the severity of nausea on a visual analog scale (VAS) of 0 to 10 cm assessed at 30 minutes. Secondary outcomes were adverse events, occurrence of posttreatment vomiting, nausea by VAS at 60 minutes, and hospital admission. Results: This pilot trial enrolled 30 patients, 17 in the capsaicin arm and 13 in the placebo arm. One patient in the capsaicin arm did not tolerate treatment due to skin irritation. Mean AE SD nausea severity at 30 minutes was 4.1 AE 2.3 cm in the capsaicin arm and 6.1 AE 3.3 cm in the placebo arm (difference = À2.0 cm, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.2 to À4.2 cm). At 60 minutes, mean AE SD nausea severity was 3.2 AE 3.2 cm versus 6.4 AE 2.8 cm (difference = À3.2 cm, 95% CI = À0.9 to À5.4 cm). The percent reduction in nausea at 60 minutes from baseline was 46.0% in the capsaicin arm and 24.9% in the placebo arm (difference = 21.1%, 95% CI = À5.6% to 47.9%). A higher proportion of capsaicin group patients (29.4% vs. 0%) had complete resolution of nausea (relative risk = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.6 to 7.1). Conclusion: In this pilot trial, the application of topical capsaicin cream was associated with a significant reduction in nausea at 60 minutes but not at 30 minutes and provided more complete relief of nausea. C annabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), thought to be a variant of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), is characterized by the chronic use of cannabis, intractable nausea, recurrent vomiting episodes, and diffuse abdominal pain. Duration and quantification of cannabis use is variable and minimally involves weekly use. 1-4 One particular unique feature of this syndrome, which differentiates it from
Results: All residents present at morning conference were included in the study. Interestingly, 83% of residents reported on the pre-Journal Club survey that they prefer to use LR and the majority of residents indicated that LR is associated with a lower incidence of acute renal failure than other fluids. According to our data set, in July 2018, just prior to distribution of the survey, only 19% of the total fluids (LR plus NS) ordered in the ED were LR. The number of LR liters ordered in the ED increased from 1.4% of total fluid boluses ordered in January 2018 to 33.7% of the total in November 2018, a significant difference when comparing the number of liters both before and after the initial study intervention (survey) (p<0.05).Conclusion: There was a significantly higher number of LR compared with NS liters ordered after the advent of new research, survey participation, and after a journal club related to the research. This may help us understand and quantify what factors impact physician practices related to new research and to evaluate the importance of group review of peer-reviewed literature. We will analyze attending physician data as well and continue to trend data to see if the effect of increased ordering of LR continues.
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