Low-concentration morphine infusion does not compromise packed red blood cell transfusion.
Regulations currently prohibit co-administration (through the same line) of red blood cell transfusions with continuous morphine infusions for pain management, resulting in additional intravenous access or interrupted analgesic therapy in seriously ill children. Packed cells that had been in contact with morphine 0.1 or 1.0 mg/mL and infused through a mock central venous catheter system showed no evidence of hemolysis when compared with control samples. There is thus no need to interrupt analgesic therapy or start another venous access line in order to give a coincident blood transfusion.
Wozniak
E
E
Department of Pathology, IWK Health Center and Dalhousie University, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3G9, Canada
Finley
G A
GA
Dooley
K C
KC
Barnard
D R
DR
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine