Pain relief with low-dose intravenous clonidine in a child with severe burns.
The case of an 11-year-old boy who suffered second and third degree burns to 78% of his body is reported. The large doses of morphine used as analgesia resulted in severe side effects: ventilatory dependence, impairment of gastrointestinal function and psychological disturbance. Intravenous lignocaine was added without benefit. The addition of low-dose intravenous clonidine, however, precipitated a dramatic reduction in morphine consumption with an attendant improvement in ventilatory, gastrointestinal and psychological functions.
Lyons
B
B
Dept. of Anaesthesia, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland.
Casey
W
W
Doherty
P
P
McHugh
M
M
Moore
K P
KP
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D003000:Clonidine