Effects of route of fluid administration on severity of side effects with post-metrizamide myelogram.

The effect of route of hydration on the severity of side effects of nausea, vomiting, and headaches for 13 patients receiving a metrizamide myelogram was studied. Six patients were hydrated by mouth only and seven by mouth and intravenously. Severity was measured 24 hours postmyelogram with a visual analogue scale for each side effect. Controlling for the volume of all fluid received, significantly more severe headaches were reported by patients hydrated only orally. For this small sample, no significant differences were found for severity of nausea or vomiting. The study and its implications for nursing are described.