What it means
The stomach and belly muscles squeeze hard and push stomach contents up and out. It often follows nauseaNAW-zee-uhAn uneasy feeling in the stomach with the urge to vomit.Full entry . Causes include infections, motion sickness, pregnancy, drugs, chemotherapy, bowel blockage and raised pressure in the skull. The material brought up is called vomitus or emesis.
For the nurse
Turn a client who is drowsy or cannot sit up onto the side to prevent aspirationas-puh-RAY-shunBreathing food, liquid, saliva or stomach contents into the airway and lungs; also, drawing fluid out with suction or a needle.Full entry . Note the amount, color and look of the emesis (coffee-ground or bloody material is reported at once), track intake and output, and watch for dehydrationdee-hy-DRAY-shunA state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in.de- remove, lack ofhydr/o water-ation processFull entry and low potassium.
In a chart
"Emesis x2, 200 mL each, green-tinged; antiemetic given."
At a glance
| Spanish | vómito |
|---|---|
| Also written | vomit, vomited, vomits |
Related terms
hypokalemia
A blood potassium level below normal, under 3.5 mEq/L.
dehydration
A state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in.
aspiration
Breathing food, liquid, saliva or stomach contents into the airway and lungs; also, drawing fluid out with suction or a needle.
nausea
An uneasy feeling in the stomach with the urge to vomit.
antiemetic
A drug that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.