PILOT STUDY OF ANTIEMETIC DRUGS IN A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY UNIT
Naiane Roveda Marsilio, Gabriella Calvi Sampaio, Denise Bueno

Objective: Evaluate the use of antiemetic drugs in a pediatric oncology unit of a university hospital in Porto Alegre through a pilot study.

Methods: Cross sectional observational study with analysis of electronic medical records of patients admitted to the pediatric oncology unit of a university hospital in Porto Alegre. We analyzed medical records of patients aged 0 to 18 receiving chemotherapy. For data analysis, the following variables were researched: age, sex, diagnosis, length of hospitalization, chemotherapy regimen, emetogenic potential, antiemetic regimen and the frequency of emesis and its severity.

Results: Thirty records were analyzed. The antiemetic prophylaxis was performed for all patients analyzed. Ondansetron and dimenhydrinate were the most commonly prescribed drugs. The antiemetic drugs were administered in polytherapy, with the predominance of combining ondansetron, dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide. The vomiting occurred in 43.3% of cases, being more frequent in patients who received high-risk emetogenic chemotherapy.

Conclusion: The cases of cancer in children and frequency of episodes of nausea and vomiting as side effects of chemotherapy, justify continued research in this area in order to qualify the health care of this population.

Descriptors: oncology, pediatrics, náusea, vomiting, antiemetics.