Is there still a place for pethidine in the management of postoperative pain?

Abstract

Pethidine and morphine are both effective analgesics for postoperative pain. Morphine appears slightly superior in terms of efficacy, but there is little evidence of any important difference in side effects. However, even after 50 years use of these opioids, no definitive statement of their relative side effects can be made. At the present time shortcomings in quality of patient care are more appropriately addressed by optimisation of dosage, timing and route of administration rather than by laying the blame on failings of available drugs.