title: Maternal and fetal concentration of morphine after intrathecal administration during labour.
abstract: Twenty-five healthy women in labour received morphine 1-1.75 mg in normal saline intrathecally. The residual pain was evaluated on a scale from 0 to 5 at 10 min (score 2.5) and at 25 min (score 1.5). After delivery the maternal and fetal plasma morphine concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in 14 parturients. Twenty-three women of 25 had vaginal deliveries, 20 of them without forceps. The maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of morphine were 6 ng ml-1 or less. The intrathecal (but not extradural) administration of morphine is effective and could provide an interesting alternative for pain relief in labour.
mesh_terms: D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine