title: Postoperative analgesia with i.v. patient-controlled morphine: effect of adding ketamine.
abstract: We have studied the effect of adding ketamine to i.v. morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for the treatment of pain after laparotomy. Thirty patients were allocated randomly to receive PCA with saline or ketamine in a double-blind, randomized study. Analgesia was started in the recovery room when visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were > 4. A bolus dose of morphine 3 mg was given to all the patients followed by i.v. PCA. Simultaneously, an infusion of ketamine 2.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1 or saline was started. Pain scores, morphine consumption and side effects were noted for up to 48 h after the start of PCA. VAS scores decreased significantly with time (P = 0.0001) and were similar (P = 0.3083) in both groups. Cumulative morphine consumption at 48 h was significantly lower in the ketamine group (28 mg) than in the control group (54 mg) (P = 0.0003). Nausea was less frequent in the ketamine group (P = 0.03).
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Antwerp, Department of Anaesthesia, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adriaenssens
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Vermeyen
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Adriaensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000379:methods*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D007649:Ketamine; D009020:Morphine