Epidural morphine and buprenorphine for postoperative pain relief after hepatectomy
Takata, T.; Yukioka, H.; Fujimori, M.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 39(1): 13-18
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 2304247 Document Number: 356156
Postoperative pain relief with epidural morphine and buprenorphine was studied in 33 patients following hepatectomy. Morphine 2 mg or buprenorphine 0.06 mg in 10 ml of normal saline was administered through an epidural catheter inserted at the Th10-11 or L3-4 interspace. Morphine injected at the lumbar level, as well as that injected at the thoracic level produced excellent and long-lasting (20.8 .+-. 8.6 hours) pain relief. Respiratory rate decreased significantly following epidural morphine at the L3-4, but PaCO2 did not change. Buprenorphine injected at the thoracic level produced good and long-lasting (22.6 .+-. 9.9 hours) pain relief, although buprenorphine injected at the lumbar level produced incomplete analgesia. The epidural administration of morphine 2 mg at L3-4 or buprenorphine 0.06 mg at Th10-11 may be recommended for postoperative analgesia following hepatectomy.