Table 2 -- Problems caused by vomiting: signs, symptoms and treatment
Problem Signs & Symptoms Other Findings Treatment
Intravascular Volume Depletion


Thirst, lightheadedness
Syncope, orthostatic hypotension
Decreased skin turgor
Oliguria, tachycardia
Azotemia, shock, coma
Increased BUN:Cr Ratio
Fractional Excretion Na<1
Increased HCT
See (Table 2a)
Hypokalemic Hypochloremic Alkalosis

Hypotension
Hypoventilation
Muscle cramps, tetany
Urine Na>20 mEq/1
Urine C1<10 mEq/1
See (Table 2b)
GI Bleeding

Hematemesis, melena
Hypotension, tachycardia
Rarely, dysphagia, chest/back pain (intramural hematoma)
Decreased HCT
Large bore IVs
Central line
Blood transfusion
Platelets if low
FFP if coagulopathic
GI consult
Boerhaave Syndrome

Fever, chest/abdominal pain
Dyspnea, shock, crepitance
Abnormal contrast X-rays
Leukocytosis
Hypoxia
Surgical consult, NPO
NG tube straddling perforation site
IV antibiotics --
cover anaerobes (PenG, or Clindamycin)
cover Gram neg aerobes and Staph aureus if recent hospitalization
Aspiration

Fever, cough
Dyspnea
Decreased oxygen saturation
Infiltrates on chest X-ray
Control airway
Antibiotics as above
Bronchoscopy if localized wheezing or parenchymal volume loss to remove foreign body
Intra-abdominal bleeding

Abdominal pain
Hypotension, tachycardia
Increasing abd girth
Dropping HCT
CT abdomen
Surgical consultation