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Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome

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Functional and Motility Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract

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Abstract

Cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a highly characteristic disorder, and the diagnosis can readily be made if an accurate history is obtained. CVS is characterized by episodic vomiting and associated intense nausea which resolves spontaneously. The episodes can last from 24 h to up to 2 weeks. Characteristically patients have no nausea or vomiting between episodes, but they may report abdominal pain. First described by French physicians in the mid-nineteenth century in children, CVS is now increasingly recognized in adults. Despite the episodic nature of CVS, it results in significant morbidity with up to 50 % of patients requiring admission and intravenous hydration during each attack and a mean of 20 days’ school missed per academic year.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, New Lambton, NSW, Australia

    Nicholas J. Talley M.D., Ph.D.

  2. John Hunter Hospital, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

    Kate E. Napthali FRACP

Authors
  1. Nicholas J. Talley M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Kate E. Napthali FRACP
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicholas J. Talley M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA

    Brian E. Lacy

  2. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

    Michael D. Crowell

  3. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

    John K. DiBaise

Teaching Questions

Teaching Questions

  1. 1.

    CVS is synonymous with cannabis hyperemesis.

    1. (A)

      True

    2. (B)

      False

  2. 2.

    The etiology of CVS in children is:

    1. (A)

      Secondary to a deficiency in amines

    2. (B)

      Due to an overproduction of serotonin

    3. (C)

      Multifactorial in nature

    4. (D)

      Predominantly psychogenic

  3. 3.

    True or false: CVS develops only in children, although it can extend in to adulthood.

    1. (A)

      True

    2. (B)

      False

  4. 4.

    Therapeutic options for CVS include:

    1. (A)

      Diet

    2. (B)

      Tricyclic antidepressants

    3. (C)

      Triptans

    4. (D)

      Beta-blockers

    5. (E)

      All of the above

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Talley, N.J., Napthali, K.E. (2015). Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome. In: Lacy, B., Crowell, M., DiBaise, J. (eds) Functional and Motility Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1498-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1498-2_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1497-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1498-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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