Epidural morphine analgesia in second-trimester induced abortion.
Epidural administration of 2 mg of morphine to 16 patients who were undergoing induced abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy abolished labor pains in 10 of them within 10 to 20 minutes after treatment was begun. The pain did not recur until the abortion process started, sometimes hours later. In one patient, the relief of pain was achieved with an additional top up dose of 1 mg 15 minutes later. In the other five patients in whom the morphine had no appreciable effect, the addition of 4 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride, also injected epidurally, successfuly abolished pain. Because of the beneficial and prolonged action of morphine, as well as the lack of side effects, continuous epidural analgesia with low doses of it--supplemented, if necessary, with small quantities of bupivacaine--is effective for treatment of labor pains in induced abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy. The involvement of the anesthetist from the very beginning of the induction procedure is highly recommended.
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
D009020:Morphine