ABSTRACT
Rumination syndrome (RS) represents the involuntary regurgitation of recently ingested food from the stomach to the mouth, where it is either expelled or chewed again and re-swallowed. The act of rumination is driven by a rise in intra-abdominal and intragastric pressure associated with a relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter leading to the reflux of the gastric content into the oesophagus. In the existing literature, several behavioural and psychological factors have been identified as contributing to or maintaining RS, and interventions have focused on amelioration of these factors. Building upon the current knowledge base and treatments that have demonstrated empirical support, professionals from several disciplines at our institution developed an inpatient programme for patients with severe RS who often required enteral or parenteral nutrition. Radiographic contrast studies and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy usually are necessary to rule out organic diseases that can cause emesis, such as congenital anatomic defects or eosinophilic oesophagitis.
