• C D Lawhorn, F A Boop, R E Brown, P D Andelman, M L Schmitz, P J Kymer, and R Shirey.
• Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock 72202-3591, USA.
• Childs Nerv Syst. 1995 Nov 1;11(11):621-4.

AbstractThe authors prospectively evaluated 15 patients who had undergone selective dorsal rhizotomy who were given a continuous morphine/butorphanol infusion, to determine whether variations in the postoperative pain control and side effects seen using a bolus technique could be reduced. Patients had an epidural catheter placed at the end of the operative procedure through which 50-60 micrograms/kg preservative-free morphine and 15-20 micrograms/kg butorphanol was administered. A continuous epidural infusion of 5 micrograms/kg h morphine and 1.2 micrograms/kg h butorphanol was then initiated. Postoperatively, mean pain scores were excellent. No patient required additional systemic analgesics during the 72-h investigational period. A low incidence of nausea, and no vomiting, pruritus, or respiratory depression was reported by the cohort. All patients maintained oxygen saturations above 95%. This indicates that the use of a continuous epidural infusion provides excellent pain control, decreases the occurrence of untoward side effects, and allows the early initiation of occupational and physical therapy postoperatively.

27 keywords...

hide…