Abstract

MULEN NAPOLES, Bárbara M.; TORRES BABIE, Priscila  and  ROPERO TOIRAC, Ramón de J.. Bases fisiológicas y tratamiento de la emésis inducida por radiaciones. Rev cubana med [online]. 2002, vol.41, n.5, pp. 289-296. ISSN 1561-302X.

In the course of the specific oncologic treatment, there are frequent complications such as nausea and vomiting. The radiation-induced emetic reflex depends on various factors: primary site of radiation, administered dose, fractioning, irradiated volume, the sensory and psychic characteristics of the patient as well as the chemotherapy association. It is known that the afferent path to the so-called center of vomiting is determined by chemical mediators, protuberance receptors of the intracranial pressure and the unleashing chemoreceptor zone. In radiation-induced emesis, the exact mechanism is yet to be determined but it is known that radiation stimulates the production of chemical mediators and serotonin released by enterochromaffin cells that act upon the center of vomiting and vagal nucleus. Most of patients who are exposed to irradiation of their upper and middle hemibody as well as all the patients exposed to whole-body irradiation present with nausea and vomiting. The therapeutical anti-emetic recommendations are based on the neurochemical control of vomiting and the emetogenic effect of radiotherapy. 5HT3 receptor-antagonists are evaluated as effective agents in the control of radiation-induced emesis.

Keywords : VOMITING [etiology]; VOMITING [physiopathology]; RADIOTHERAPY [adverse effects]; NAUSEA [etiology]; NAUSEA [physiopathology].