Y. Adugyamfi, EPIDURAL MORPHINE PLUS BUPIVACAINE FOR RELIEF OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN FOLLOWING HARRINGTON ROD INSERTION FOR CORRECTION OF IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS, Journal of international medical research, 23(3), 1995, pp. 211-217
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Pharmacy","Medicine, Research & Experimental
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of epidural morphine
plus bupivacaine for post-operative pain control following Harrington
rod insertion. In 22 scoliotic patients, studied prospectively, the ep
idural catheter was positioned under direct vision, intra-operatively
before wound closure. Post-operatively, the patients received 2 mg mor
phine in 4 mi of 0.25% bupivacaine through the epidural catheter whene
ver they complained of pain. The pain score was assessed before and af
ter every injection, using the Visual Analogue Pain Scale, and side-ef
fects were monitored. All patients had adequate pain relief following
analgesic administration. The mean (+/- SD) pre-injection pain score d
ecreased from 2.5 +/- 0.15 on the first past-operative day to 0.7 +/-
0.2 by the fourth day. The side-effects, including nausea, vomiting an
d pruritus, were minimal. It is concluded that morphine, in 0.25% bupi
vacaine administered through an intra-operatively placed epidural cath
eter, provides a safe and effective post-operative analgesia in patien
ts undergoing Harrington rod insertion for idiopathic scoliosis.