Garcia Gomez, J., Perez Lopez, M.E., Alonso Bermejo, M., Escobar Alvarez, Y., & Garcia Mata, J. (2013). SEOM guide to antiemetic prophylaxis in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy 2013. Clinical & Translational Oncology, 15, 1030–1036.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
The authors provide tables summarizing the emetogenic potential of common chemotherapy agents, the National Cancer Institute's classification of emesis by intensity and severity, and an algorithm of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) prophylaxis. Recommended schedules for the administration of palonosetron and dexamethasone are also provided.
No succinct list of recommendations was provided by the authors. The definition of nausea is also inconsistent with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's definition. The article describes the different types of CINV, describes the emetogenic potential of agents, and supports an algorithm to select appropriate interventions. The authors do not state their intention outright; however, this document appears to present treatment guidelines for the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology. This guide is written in a clear style and offers straightforward recommendations for the prevention and treatment of CINV. The recommendations are grounded in the evidence, although no explanation of how the evidence was retrieved is provided. It is not possible to tell if research is drawn from a suitable representation of sources to be deemed comprehensive. Forty-three references were cited ranging from 1993 to 2013. It is assumed that the recommendations are applicable towards adults and not pediatrics but this was not stated. Recommendations for refractory and salvage antiemetic therapy are provided, but it is unclear how consensus was reached for these recommendations.
CINV continues to be a serious and debilitating side effect of chemotherapy for patients with cancer. Nurses should be well informed of current recommendations and guidelines for the use of 5HT3s in the prevention and treatment of CINV.