title: Prevention of epidural morphine-induced respiratory depression with intravenous nalbuphine infusion in post-thoracotomy patients.
abstract: The efficacy of nalbuphine, an agonist/antagonist opioid, in preventing respiratory depression from epidural morphine analgesia after thoracotomy, was assessed in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial. After a standardized general anaesthetic and 0.15 mg.kg-1 of epidural morphine, patients received a bolus and then a 24 h infusion of nalbuphine (200 micrograms.kg-1 + 50 micrograms.kg-1.hr-1, 100 micrograms.kg-1 + 25 micrograms.kg-1.hr-1, or 50 micrograms.kg-1 + 12.5 micrograms.kg-1.hr-1) or placebo. Blood gases, analgesia, sedation, side effects, and blood nalbuphine concentrations were assessed every two hours for the next 24 h. Fifty-three per cent of placebo-treated patients had a PaCO2 greater than 50 mmHg and 89 per cent of these received naloxone. A 200 micrograms.kg-1 bolus of nalbuphine followed by a 50 micrograms.kg-1.hr-1 infusion achieved a mean steady state blood level of 38.2 ng.ml-1 and prevented CO2 retention greater than 50 mmHg in all but two patients, neither of whom required naloxone. There was no difference in the incidence of side effects among groups, and analgesia appeared to be unaffected by nalbuphine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Ottawa General Hospital, Ontario.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penning
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dube
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009019:Morphinans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009266:Nalbuphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D009019:Morphinans; D010919:Placebos; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009020:Morphine; D009266:Nalbuphine