Epidurally administered morphine for postcesarean analgesia.
A double blind study was performed to evaluate analgesia from epidurally injected morphine sulfate in 30 mothers after cesarean section following similar regional anesthetics. When compared with a saline placebo and 2 milligrams of epidurally injected morphine, a 4.5 milligram epidurally administered morphine dose resulted in a highly significant reduction in the initial 24 hour parenterally administered narcotic requirement, p less than 0.001, and a significantly greater duration of analgesia after epidural injection, p less than 0.0003. The mean duration of analgesia following 4.5 milligram epidural injection of morphine sulfate was 26.7 +/- 4.72 hours. A 2 milligram epidural dose reduced the initial 24 hour narcotic requirement, p less than 0.05, but the duration of analgesia did not significantly differ from that of placebo injection. No significant side-effects were noted. Epidurally administered morphine appears promising as a potent analgesic approach of extended duration with potential advantages for early maternal mobilization, improved fetal maternal interaction and reduced fetal narcotic exposure in the breast fed infant.
D000698:Analgesia; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004388:Dura Mater; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation
D009020:Morphine