INTRATHECAL ADMINISTRATION OF MORPHINE FOR ELECTIVE CESAREAN-SECTION - A COMPARISON BETWEEN 0.1 MG AND 0.2 MG

This study compared the quality of analgesia and incidence of adverse effects with two doses of intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing elective Caesar ean section. Fifty patients were randomly allocated to receive either morphine 0.1 mg or 0.2 mg in addition to a standard in trathecal dose of 2.5 ml bupivacaine 0.5% in 8% dextrose. The quality of analgesia was assessed using visual analogue scores and the inciden ce of nausea, vomiting and itching were, recorded during the first 24 it postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in the quality of analgesia nor in the incidence and severity of itchi ng between the two groups. Fewer patients in the 0.1 mg morphine group experienced postoperative nausea and vomiting (7 versus 14, p < 0.05) . We conclude that the use of 0.1 mg morphine intrathecally produces c omparable analgesia to 0.2 mg after Caesarean section with significant ly less nausea and vomiting.