Addition of intrathecal atropine for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients received intrathecal bupivacaine / morphine in lower limb surgeries

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Abstract Background Intrathecal opioids administration is an attractive analgesic technique since the opioids is injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid providing safe and effective postoperative analgesia for up to 24 hours. The most common adverse effects after intrathecal morphine are postoperative nausea, vomiting and pruritus. We evaluated the effect of intrathecal atropine on prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients receiving intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine and morphine in lower limb surgeries and on its effect on duration of postoperative analgesia. Methods 80 patients undergoing lower limb surgeries under spinal anesthesia were randomized into two groups. BM group Received spinal anesthesia with 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (3ml) + 200 mcg of preservative-free morphine sulphate (0.2ml) + Normal saline (0.1ml). BMA group received spinal anesthesia with 15 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (3ml) + 200 mcg of preservative-free morphine sulphate (0.2ml) + 100 mcg preservative-free atropine sulphate (0.1ml). Follow-up of both nausea and vomiting episodes was done during the first 24 hours postoperatively. Results Nausea and vomiting were noticed in 17 patients (42.5%) in group BM and 7 patients (17.5%) in group BMA, with significant differences (p = 0.015). As regards postoperative analgesia, there was no significant differences between BM and BMA group. Conclusions Intrathecal atropine has antiemetic effect after spinal anesthesia using bupivacaine and morphine for lower limb surgeries without affecting postoperative analgesia.