Lumbar Epidural Morphine Research Articles

Comparison between lumbar and thoracic epidural morphine for severe isolated blunt chest wall trauma: a randomized open-label trial

The aim of this randomized, parallel-arm, open-label trial was to compare lumbar versus thoracic epidural morphine for severe isolated blunt chest wall injury as regards the incidence of pulmonary complications and pain control. Fifty-five patients who sustained severe isolated blunt chest wall trauma were randomized using a computer-generated list to receive epidural morphine injection every 24h through an epidural catheter inserted into the lumbar (n=28) or thoracic (n=27) region. Need for mechanical ventilation, incidence of pneumonia, arterial blood gas values, and pulmonary function tests were compared in both groups. Pain scores, supplemental analgesic consumption, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and occurrence of epidural morphine-related side effects were compared as well. Primary outcome measures were need for mechanical ventilation and incidence of pneumonia. Five (17.9%) patients in the lumbar group were mechanically ventilated, compared with six (22.2%) in the thoracic group (hazard ratio 1.35; 95% CI 0.41-4.4; P=0.611). Seven (25%) patients in the lumbar group developed pneumonia versus six (22.2%) in the thoracic group (hazard ratio 0.97; 95% CI 0.33-2.9; P=0.96). Both groups were comparable as regards the duration of mechanical ventilation (P=0.141) and length of ICU stay (P=0.227). Pain scores, supplemental analgesic consumption, pulmonary function, and occurrence of epidural morphine-related side effects were, likewise, comparable (P>0.05). Lumbar and thoracic epidural morphine administered as once-daily injection to patients with severe isolated blunt chest wall trauma were comparable in terms of pain control, incidence of pulmonary complications, and occurrence of epidural morphine-related side effects.

Comparison of Lumbar Epidural Tramadol and Lumbar Epidural Morphine for Pain Relief After Thoracotomy: A Repeated-Dose Study

The purpose of this study was to compare lumbar epidural morphine and lumbar epidural tramadol with respect to onset and duration of analgesia, analgesic efficacy, and drug-related side effects after muscle-sparing thoracotomy. Prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical study. Single university hospital. Forty patients who underwent elective muscle-sparing thoracotomy. Before anesthesia induction, an epidural catheter was placed in the L2-3 or L3-4 interspace using the loss-of-resistance technique. On arrival at the intensive care unit, patients were randomized to receive doses of either 100 mg of tramadol (group T) or 4 mg of morphine (group M) via the lumbar epidural catheter. Each dose was diluted in 10 mL of normal saline. On awakening from anesthesia, if the patient's pain score on a 0- to 100-mm visual analog scale was above 40 mm, the initial epidural drug dose was administered. The initial injection in each case was taken as time 0. Subsequent pain scores above 40 mm were considered indications for epidural dosing; each patient was allowed 2 doses in the first 12 hours postoperatively and 2 more in the second 12 hours. The groups' analgesia onset times were similar, but duration of analgesia was significantly shorter in group T than in group M (p < 0.01). There were no differences between the groups with respect to pain scores at rest or during coughing at any of the time points investigated. Sedation scores were lower in group T than in group M at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 hours (p value range, 0.0001-0.05). Compared with group T, group M showed significantly greater drops in arterial oxygen tension from baseline at 3, 4, 8, and 12 hours (p value range, 0.0001-0.05). The group means for arterial carbon dioxide tension and respiratory rate were similar at all time points investigated. The study revealed that the quality of analgesia achieved with repeated doses of lumbar epidural tramadol after muscle-sparing thoracotomy is comparable to that achieved with repeated doses of lumbar epidural morphine. Compared with morphine, lumbar epidural tramadol results in less sedation and a less-pronounced decrease in oxygenation.

Earlier Extubation After Esophagectomy Is Successfully Performed with Thoracic Epidural Bupivacaine Combined with Thoracic and Lumbar Epidural Morphine

Earlier Extubation After Esophagectomy Is Successfully Performed with Thoracic Epidural Bupivacaine Combined with Thoracic and Lumbar Epidural Morphine

The effects of epidural morphine on cardiac and renal sympathetic nerve activity in alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cats.

Epidural morphine yields postoperative pain relief and hemodynamic stability. However, the effects of epidural morphine on sympathetic tone are unclear. This study was designed to elucidate the effects of epidural morphine on cardiac (CSNA) and renal (RSNA) sympathetic nerve activity by direct measurement in anesthetized cats. Thirty mongrel cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose were randomly assigned to one of the following five groups: control (0.2 ml/kg thoracic epidural normal saline; n=5); thoracic epidural morphine (n=9); lumbar epidural morphine (n=6); vagotomized, sinoaortic denervated, thoracic epidural morphine (n=5); or intravenous morphine (n=5). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), CSNA, and RSNA were measured 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after saline or morphine (200 microg/kg) administration and 15 min after reversal with 200 microg naloxone given intravenously. In the control group, no changes in measured variables were found after either thoracic epidural saline or intravenous naloxone. Thoracic and lumbar epidural morphine both significantly reduced MAP, HR, CSNA, and RSNA 30 through 120 min after morphine administration (P < 0.05). These changes were reversed by intravenous naloxone. Changes after thoracic epidural morphine administration in vagotomized, baroreceptor-denervated cats were similar to those in intact cats. Intravenous morphine produced no significant changes except for a decrease in MAP, which was reversed by intravenous naloxone. In contrast to intravenous morphine, thoracic and lumbar epidural morphine both inhibited cardiac and renal sympathetic nerve activity and consequently reduced MAP and HR in alpha-chloralose anesthetized cats.

The Effect of Prior Dural Puncture on Cisternal Cerebrospinal Fluid Morphine Concentrations in Sheep After Administration of Lumbar Epidural Morphine

SWENSON, JEFFREY D.; WISNIEWSKI, MARK; McJAMES, SCOTT; ASHBURN, MICHAEL A.; PACE, NATHAN L.; Gibbs, John M. M.D., F.A.N.Z.C.A. Author Information

Single-injection lumbar epidural morphine for postoperative analgesia in children: A report of 175 cases

Since the first report of epidural opioid administration to pediatric patients, several studies have described the quality of analgesia, doses, pharmacokinetics, and side effects of this procedure. A pediatric series using an easy and cheap single-injection technique of epidural morphine administration for postoperative analgesia is presented. Postoperative analgesia was achieved with a single lumbar epidural morphine injection (0.1 mg/kg in 0.2 mL/kg saline), which was given via a 22-gauge intramuscular needle to 153 pediatric patients (aged 4 months-17 years) following 175 lower abdominal or urologic operations. Injections were given by 43 anesthesiology residents under the supervision of pediatric anesthesiologists, after termination of surgery performed under general anesthesia. The success rate of epidural puncture on the first attempt was 92%. Pain control was considered excellent in 76% of patients for 24 hours. The remaining patients had analgesia lasting 10.9 +/- 5.5 hours after epidural morphine administration. No alterations in hemodynamic parameters were observed. Two patients (1.1%) developed respiratory depression during early postoperative care and one, with a history of apneic spells, had an episode of apnea 5 hours after morphine administration. The incidences of minor side effects were: nausea, 33.9%; vomiting, 42.9%; pruritus 9%; and urinary retention 12.5%. This technique is easy to perform, even for trainees in anesthesiology. With appropriate patient selection and avoidance of the concomitant use of narcotics and sedatives, epidural morphine provides prompt, effective, safe, and prolonged analgesia in children.

The effect of prior dural puncture on cisternal cerebrospinal fluid morphine concentrations in sheep after administration of lumbar epidural morphine.

Combined spinal epidural anesthesia has become increasingly popular as a method of providing rapid onset of analgesia or surgical block with access for further administration of analgesics or anesthetics. No in vivo studies have evaluated the relationship between dural puncture and drug transfer from the epidural space to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To determine whether morphine administered in the epidural space adjacent to a dural puncture results in increased CSF concentrations at the cisterna magna (CM), 12 adult ewes were studied. Each animal was assigned to one of three groups. Animals in Group 1 served as a control and received no dural puncture. Animals in Group 2 received a dural puncture with a 25-gauge (G) Whitacre needle, while Group 3 animals received a dural puncture with an 18-G Tuohy needle. One hour after dural puncture, each animal was given epidural morphine, 0.2 mg/kg. Six hours after the administration of epidural morphine, CSF from the CM was sampled and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for morphine concentration. The mean morphine concentration at the CM for Group 1 (control) was 22 +/- 12 ng/mL, whereas animals with 25-G and 18-G dural punctures had concentrations of 154 +/- 32 ng/mL and 405 +/- 53 ng/mL, respectively (P = 0.0005). These data demonstrate that a significant increase in CSF morphine concentration at the brainstem will occur when lumbar epidural morphine is administered adjacent to a dural puncture. Furthermore, the increase in CSF morphine concentration is positively correlated with the size of the needle producing the dural puncture. These findings highlight the potential for delayed respiratory depression when epidural opiate administration follows a dural puncture.

The Effect of Prior Dural Puncture on Cisternal Cerebrospinal Fluid Morphine Concentrations in Sheep After Administration of Lumbar Epidural Morphine

The Effect of Prior Dural Puncture on Cisternal Cerebrospinal Fluid Morphine Concentrations in Sheep After Administration of Lumbar Epidural Morphine

Lumbar epidural morphine infusions for children undergoing cardiac surgery

To determine whether outcomes and costs in children undergoing cardiac surgery are affected by the method of postoperative pain management. Retrospective, case control. Tertiary care children's hospital in a university setting. Two groups of children undergoing cardiac surgery for palliation or repair of congenital heart disease oer a 21-month period between January 1993 and September 1994. Lumbar epidural morphine infusions (LEM) in one group, and IV opioid (IVO) medication in the other for postoperative pain control. Hospital courses of 27 LEM patients and 27 IVO patients were analyzed. In LEM patients, epidural catheters were placed following anesthetic induction, but before anticoagulation. A bolus of 50 micrograms/kg of preservative-free morphine sulfate was administered through the catheter, followed by a continuous infusion at 3 to 4 micrograms/kg/h for 22 to 102 (median, 46) hours postoperatively. The IVO patients received 50 micrograms/kg, IV, of fentanyl before incision followed by a continuous infusion at 0.3 microgram/kg/min. The fentanyl infusion rate was decreased to 0.1 microgram/kg/min postoperatively and maintained for 24 hours. Although the LEM group was demographically similar to the IVO group, times to tracheal extubation, transfer from the intensive care unit, and resumption of regular diet were significantly shorter in LEM patients. LEM and IVO patients received similar amounts of fentanyl during surgery (10.4 +/- 19.3 micrograms/kg/h v 13.7 +/- 8.1 micrograms/kg/h, p = 0.4). However, during postoperative recovery, LEM patients who were extubated late received significantly less supplemental opioid medication than IVO patients extubated late during the first 5 postoperative days. No complications related to dural puncture, bleeding into the epidural space, or respiratory depression were encountered. Pruritus and nausea/vomiting were the most commonly reported morbidities in both groups. Fifty-six percent (15/27) of LEM patients and 41% of IVO patients reported pruritus (p = 0.4). There was no significant difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting between the groups (34% v 30%, respectively). Given the present methodologic limitations, the authors found improved outcomes only in LEM patients extubated late compared with IVO patients. Randomized, prospective studies to evaluate this conclusion and to determine the comparative efficacy and safety of LEM infusions are in progress.

Prolonged postoperative analgesia with lumbar epidural morphine in children undergoing thoracic and upper abdominal surgery

Postoperative analgesia with lumbar epidural morphine was provided to 19 male and 7 female children (average age 11.3 years, range 3–18 years) who underwent 13 thoracic and 14 upper abdominal operations. Average duration of catheterization was 55.4 ± 28.7 h, and average time to first oral feedings 2 ± 1.5 days. Average overall time to dirst oral feedings 2 ± 2.6 days. Patients undergoing upper abdominal procedures had a significantly longer (P <0.05) time to first oral feedings and discharge home than children undergoing thoracic surgery. Average number of top-up doses of epidural morphine was 5.07 ± 2.5. Complications included: (1) pruritus in 11 patients (42%) treated medically; (2) urinary retention in 2 (8%) requiring catheterization; (3) gastrointestinal nausea and vomiting in 4 (15%), none of whom required nasogastric decompression; and (4) cardiorespiratory depression in 1 (4%). For 27 postoperative epidural analgesia procedures, 21 patients (78%) required no additional medications for pain or agitation. Four patients (15%) required diphenhydramine for agitation and sleeplessness. Three (11%) who had undergone thoracic procedures required one dose of intravenous morphine sulfate for additional pain relief in the immediate postoperative period.

Continuous intercostal nerve block versus epidural morphine for postthoracotomy analgesia

Twenty patients undergoing elective thoracotomy were randomized into two groups, receiving either lumbar epidural morphine (n = 10) or continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block (n = 10). Subjective pain relief was assessed on a linear visual analogue scale. Pulmonary function (peak expiratory flow rate, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and forced vital capacity) was measured on the day before operation and daily for 4 days after operation. Pulse oximetry monitoring was used to determine the incidence of hypoxemia. No significant difference was observed between the groups concerning pain relief (except at 28 hours, in favor of the intercostal nerve block group), respiratory performance, or arterial oxygen saturation. Vomiting, pruritus, and urinary retention occurred only in the epidural group, whereas nausea occurred significantly less frequently in the extrapleural group. We conclude that after thoracotomy continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block is as effective as lumbar epidural morphine in reducing postoperative pain and restoring pulmonary mechanics. Because of the significantly lower complication rates we favor continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block for postthoracotomy analgesia.

Morphine and Hydromorphone Epidural Analgesia

Because evidence from uncontrolled, unblinded studies suggested fewer side effects from epidural hydromorphone than from epidural morphine, we employed a randomized, blinded study design to compare the side effects of lumbar epidural morphine and hydromorphone in 55 adult, non-obstetric patients undergoing major surgical procedures. A bolus dose of epidural study drug was given at least 1 h prior to the conclusion of surgery, followed by a continuous infusion of the same drug for two postoperative days. Infusions were titrated to patient comfort. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, VAS sedation scores, and subjective ratings of nausea and pruritus were assessed twice daily. The two treatments provided equivalent analgesia. Sedation scores and prevalence of nausea did not differ significantly between groups. Prevalence of pruritus, however, differed significantly on postoperative day 1, with moderate to severe pruritus reported by 44.4% of patients in the morphine group versus 11.5% in the hydromorphone group (P < .01). On post-operative day 2, reports of pruritus by patients receiving morphine remained higher than those among the hydromorphone-treated subjects, although this difference was no longer statistically significant (32% vs. 16.7%, P = .18). We conclude that lumbar epidural morphine and hydromorphone afford comparable analgesia, but the occurrence of moderate to severe pruritus on the first postoperative day is reduced by the use of hydromorphone.

Prolonged postoperative analgesia with lumbar epidural morphine in children undergoing thoracic and upper abdominal surgery

Postoperative analgesia with lumbar epidural morphine was provided to 19 male and 7 female children (average age 11.3 years, range 3–18 years) who underwent 13 thoracic and 14 upper abdominal operations. Average duration of catheterization was 55.4 ± 28.7 h, and average time to first oral feedings 2 ± 1.5 days. Average overall time to dirst oral feedings 2 ± 2.6 days. Patients undergoing upper abdominal procedures had a significantly longer (P <0.05) time to first oral feedings and discharge home than children undergoing thoracic surgery. Average number of top-up doses of epidural morphine was 5.07 ± 2.5. Complications included: (1) pruritus in 11 patients (42%) treated medically; (2) urinary retention in 2 (8%) requiring catheterization; (3) gastrointestinal nausea and vomiting in 4 (15%), none of whom required nasogastric decompression; and (4) cardiorespiratory depression in 1 (4%). For 27 postoperative epidural analgesia procedures, 21 patients (78%) required no additional medications for pain or agitation. Four patients (15%) required diphenhydramine for agitation and sleeplessness. Three (11%) who had undergone thoracic procedures required one dose of intravenous morphine sulfate for additional pain relief in the immediate postoperative period.

Preoperative lumbar epidural morphine improves postoperative analgesia and ventilatory function after transsternal thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis

To test the hypothesis that preoperative lumbar epidural morphine improves postoperative pain control and ventilatory function after transsternal thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis. The study design was randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind. After surgery, all patients were admitted to the Neuroscience Critical Care Unit for evaluation and treatment. All patients with myasthenia gravis who presented to the hospital for thymectomy were asked to participate in the study. Twenty patients were randomized to either the placebo or epidural morphine groups. Patients received either epidural morphine (7 mg in 14 mL of sterile saline) or saline (14 mL) before induction of anesthesia. Supplemental iv opioids were administered intraoperatively, with need determined by the anesthesiologist. The main outcome measures were indicators of postoperative pain (e.g., Visual Analog Pain Score, requirement for supplemental opioid administration, respiratory rate) and ventilatory function (e.g., forced vital capacity, negative inspiratory pressure). Immediately after surgery, the Visual Analog Pain Score in the placebo group was twice as high as the score in the epidural morphine group (placebo 7.0 +/- 1.3; epidural morphine 3.5 +/- 1.2, p less than or equal to .05). During the first eight postoperative hours, the placebo group required more opioids (0.22 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.04 mg/kg morphine equivalents, p less than or equal to .06) than the epidural morphine group. Later, both groups received similar amounts of opioids. Patients receiving epidural morphine had better initial recovery of forced vital capacity (at 8 hrs: 55 +/- 6% [epidural morphine] vs. 34 +/- 5% [placebo] of preoperative value, p less than or equal to .05). Respiratory rate was lower for the first 12 postoperative hours in the epidural morphine group, without a difference in PaCO2. There was no difference between groups for the duration of postoperative intubation or ventilation. Preoperative lumbar epidural morphine facilitates postoperative analgesia and improves initial postoperative ventilatory performance.

A Comparison of the Analgesic and Respiratory Effects of Epidural Nalbuphine or Morphine in Postthoracotomy Patients

This randomized, double-blind study compared the analgesic and respiratory effects of lumbar epidural morphine 5 mg, nalbuphine 10 mg, and nalbuphine 20 mg in repeated doses in patients after thoracotomy; the first dose was administered intraoperatively. Pre-and postoperative monitoring included continuous pulse oximetry, respiratory inductance plethysmography, and repeated arterial blood gas analysis. Postoperatively, visual analogue pain scores, somnolence scores, respiratory rate, and arterial blood gases were determined for 16 h. Preoperatively, episodes of apnea were common during sleep but were not associated with low hemoglobin oxygen saturation or increased arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2). During sleep, some otherwise normal patients had increased PaCO2, and 2 of 15 patients had episodes of hemoglobin oxygen saturation of less than 90%. Postoperatively, 1 and 2 h after arrival in the recovery room, patients who received morphine had lower pain scores than did those who received nalbuphine 10 or 20 mg (P less than 0.05). All 6 patients who received morphine had satisfactory analgesia. Two of 4 patients who received nalbuphine 10 mg and all 5 who received nalbuphine 20 mg were withdrawn from the study because of inadequate analgesia (morphine vs. nalbuphine 10 mg, not significant; morphine vs. nalbuphine 20 mg, P less than 0.01). Two patients who received morphine had persistently increased PaCO2 postoperatively. Two patients who received morphine had episodes of apnea and slow respiratory rate, which were most frequent 6 h after arrival in the recovery room. We conclude that lumbar epidural nalbuphine does not provide adequate analgesia after thoracotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Postoperative Pain Control With a Continuous Infusion of Epidural Sufentanil in the Intensive Care Unit

A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted to compare the analgesic actions and side effects of sufentanil continuously infused (5 micrograms/h) into the lumbar epidural space (L2-3) with those of an infusion of lumbar epidural morphine (0.5 mg/h). Forty patients admitted to an intensive care unit after elective major abdominal surgery participated over a varying period of 24-40 h. Post-operative pain was treated with an epidural bolus of either sufentanil (50 micrograms) or morphine (5 mg), followed by a continuous infusion of the same opiate. The quality of pain relief was similar in each group. The sufentanil group had a more rapid onset of analgesia. The incidence of nausea and vomiting, pruritus, and drowsiness was similar in the two groups. In spontaneously breathing patients there were no respiratory complications requiring treatment. Forced vital capacities were statistically significantly better during the first 1-4 h with sufentanil.

Epidural analgesia in thoracic trauma

Changes in pulmonary function tests were compared in 14 thoracic trauma patients, of whom seven received thoracic epidural bupivacaine for analgesia and seven received lumbar epidural morphine. In both groups epidural analgesia decreased subjective pain levels when compared to parenteral narcotics which the patients received before epidural catheter placement. Patients in the bupivacaine group had statistically significant improvements in vital capacity and forced expiratory volume, and a decreased respiratory rate. Patients in the morphine group had no significant change in pulmonary function. The use of thoracic epidural bupivacaine for analgesia in post-traumatic chest injuries produced superior improvement in pulmonary function when compared to lumbar epidural morphine.

Epidural morphine delays gastric emptying and small intestinal transit in volunteers.

The influence of a painful stimulus and lumbar epidural morphine on gastric emptying, the orocecal transit time and small intestinal transit were studied in nine healthy volunteers. Acetaminophen absorption was used as a measure of the rate of gastric emptying. Orocecal transit time was determined by measuring the end-expiratory hydrogen concentration. Small intestinal transit was calculated from measurements of the orocecal transit time and gastric emptying. Cold pain stress with intermittent immersion of the feet in ice-cold water was used as a painful stimulus. Each volunteer was investigated on 3 different days: once after receiving 4 mg of epidural morphine and during cold pain; once during cold pain; and once under control conditions without pain and epidural morphine. Immersion of the feet in ice-cold water was always very painful, but was more tolerable during epidural morphine analgesia. The increase in blood pressure which accompanied the cold pain was the same whether this pain was induced without or during epidural morphine analgesia. Gastric emptying, orocecal transit time and small intestinal transit were delayed during epidural morphine analgesia compared with the findings under the control and plain cold pain conditions. Cold pain stress alone did not influence gastric emptying, orocecal transit time or intestinal transit. To conclude, epidural morphine in itself delayed gastric emptying, orocecal transit and transit through the small intestine in healthy volunteers.

Pain from an Invasive Facial Tumor Relieved by Lumbar Epidural Morphine

Received from the Pain Management Unit, Department of An aesthesia and Intensive Care, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia. Address correspondence to Dr. Sullivan, 1000 16th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. Accepted for publication February 2, 1987.

Postoperative Pain Treatment after Upper Abdominal Surgery with Epidural Morphine at Thoracic or Lumbar Level

Thirty patients undergoing upper laparotomy were entered into a randomized trial, comparing the effect of midthoracic (T) and lumbar (L) epidural morphine on postoperative pain and pulmonary function. Five mg morphine was injected through the catheter at the end of the operation, and subsequently three times a day. Six, 30 and 54 h postoperatively, the following tests were performed: linear analogue pain score, arterial gas tensions (PaO2, PaCO2 and pH), forced ventilatory capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF). The changes in pain score (increase of the median): T: 21, 6, 5, and L: 24, 15, 8 per cent of full scale), PaO2 (decrease of the tension: T: 1.7, 2.1, 2.4, and L: 2.0, 2.8, 2.0 kPa), PaCO2, pH, FVC (decrease of the volume: T: 1.3, 1.1, 0.9, and L: 1.3, 1.3, 1.21), FEV1 and PEF from the preoperative tests were not significantly different. It is concluded that the clinical effect of epidural morphine for postoperative pain treatment is the same or little different whether the administration takes place at the thoracic or lumbar level.