EPIDURAL MORPHINE VS HYDROMORPHONE IN POSTCESAREAN SECTION PATIENTS

Purpose: The purpose of this randomized controlled double blind study was to compare the efficacy of pain relief and the side effects of epi dural hydromorphone and morphine in post-Caesarean patients. Methods: In all patients, epidural anaesthesia was induced using carbonated lid ocaine 2% with 1:200,000 epinephrine and 50 mu g fentanyl, given in in cremental doses. Patients in Group 1 (n=24) received 0.6 mg hydromorph one and patients in Group 2 (n=22) received 3 mg morphine after delive ry of the infant. Pain, pruritus and nausea were measured using a visu al analog scale (at times: baseline, on admission to the recovery room , 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hr postoperatively), by the number of requests f or additional medications and by an overall satisfaction score. Result s: There was no difference between the groups in pain relief or in the incidence and severity of side effects. Pruritus was more pronounced within the first six hours in Group 1 and at 18 hr in Group 2. Conclus ion: Hydromorphone provides no clinical benefit over epidural morphine for post operative analgesia following Caesarean section.