Evaluation of a pilot regimen for postoperative pain control in patients receiving oral morphine pre-operatively.
Postoperative analgesia in patients who receive regular oral opioids pre-operatively is frequently suboptimal. To improve management we introduced a regimen using subcutaneous diamorphine infusions with incremental doses. Infusion doses were calculated as half the daily pre-operative dose of oral morphine with the increments as one-sixth of the infusion dose. Results were recorded on the first two postoperative days before (n = 13) and after (n = 23) commencing the new regimen. The percentage of patients reporting severe pain at rest and on movement were significantly reduced by the new regimen (54% and 69% vs. 13% and 40%, respectively) since the opioid dose as a percentage of the pre-operative dose was significantly higher (160% vs. 352%). There were no instances of excessive sedation or slow respiratory rate in any patient. The use of the regimen has resulted in greater doses of opioids being administered with fewer patients in severe pain without significant complications.
Peacock
J E
JE
Department of Anaesthesia, C Floor OPD, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK.
Wright
B M
BM
Withers
M R
MR
Luntley
J B
JB
Atkinson
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003932:Heroin