VENTILATORY ARREST AFTER A FLUID CHALLENGE IN A NEONATE RECEIVING SC MORPHINE

S.c. infusions of morphine have been advocated for postoperative analg esia in children, but experience with this technique is limited. We re port a case in which an s.c. infusion of morphine given after operatio n to a neonate failed to provide acceptable analgesia until the child had been adequately rehydrated. However, restoration of peripheral per fusion with a fluid challenge was followed by sudden ventilatory arres t which required resuscitation and naloxone infusion. This report emph asizes the dangers of giving morphine by a peripheral route in the deh ydrated or hypovolaemic infant.