title: The effect of subhypnotic doses of propofol on the incidence of pruritus after intrathecal morphine for caesarean section.
abstract: The effect of subhypnotic doses of propofol on intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus was studied in a prospective, randomly allocated, double-blind controlled trial. Fifty-eight women undergoing elective lower segment Caesarean section for a singleton fetus received spinal anaesthesia with 2.5 ml hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.2 mg of preservative-free morphine. They then received propofol 1 ml (10 mg) or Intralipid 1 ml (control group) intravenously after delivery. Pruritus was assessed using a five-point verbal rating scale at hourly intervals for 8 h. A second dose of their allocated treatment drug was administered at the first recording of significant pruritus. The pruritus score was reassessed after 5 min and the treatment was repeated if pruritus remained. There were no differences between the groups in the onset of pruritus or its successful treatment. No adverse side-effects were associated with this dose of propofol. There were no differences in the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting between the two groups. Subhypnotic propofol is not an effective treatment for intrathecal morphine-induced pruritus in women following Caesarean section.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Warwick
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015742:Propofol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D015742:Propofol