Age-adapted morphine titration produces equivalent analgesia and adverse effects in younger and older patients.
BACKGROUND
To determine the efficacy and safety of intravenous postoperative morphine titration in the elderly compared with younger patients.


METHODS
In the post-anaesthesia care unit, patients complaining of pain received morphine until adequate pain relief. Intravenous morphine was titrated as 3 mg boluses in young (age 65 yr) and 2 mg in elderly patients (>65 yr) every 5 min.


RESULTS
We studied 350 young and 68 elderly patients. There were no significant differences between the two age groups for pain intensity at the onset of titration (numerical rating scale, 7.4 +/- 1.7 in young vs. 7.5 +/- 1.7 in elderly patients), area under the curve of numerical rating scale vs. morphine boluses (97.7 +/- 59.6 vs. 98.2 +/- 62), number of boluses required to obtain pain relief (3 +/- 1.3 vs. 3 +/- 1.3), percentage of titration failures (10% vs. 9%) and incidence of excessive sedation (18% vs. 21%). Renal clearance was significantly reduced in elderly compared with young patients (55 +/- 21 vs. 85 +/- 15 mL min(-1); P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Using lower bolus doses, pain relief in the immediate postoperative period with morphine was as efficacious and safe in elderly patients as in younger patients. The decrease in renal clearance of morphine in the elderly justifies the reduction of intravenous morphine boluses for the treatment of postoperative pain.
Keïta
H
H
Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hospital Louis Mourier, Department of Anaesthesia, Colombes, France. hawa.keita@lmr.aphp.fr
Tubach
F
F
Maalouli
J
J
Desmonts
J-M
JM
Mantz
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine