• J A Alhashemi, M D Sharpe, C L Harris, V Sherman, and D Boyd.
• London Health Sciences Centre University of Western Ontario, Canada.
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2000 Dec 1;14(6):639-44.

ObjectiveTo determine the effects of 2 low doses of intrathecal morphine on extubation time and on postoperative analgesic requirements after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.DesignA prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.SettingTertiary-care university hospital.ParticipantsFifty adult patients scheduled for elective primary CABG surgery.InterventionsPatients were randomized to receive placebo, 250 microg, or 500 microg intrathecal morphine, preoperatively. Intraoperative fentanyl and midazolam were limited to 15 microg/kg and 20 microg/kg intravenously. Patients were extubated in the intensive care unit by a blinded observer using predefined extubation criteria.Measurements And Main ResultsTime to extubation and postoperative requirements for morphine, midazolam, nitroglycerin, and sodium nitroprusside were recorded by a blinded observer. Extubation times were 441 +/- 207 minutes versus 325 +/- 188 minutes versus 409 +/- 245 minutes for the placebo, 250-microg, and 500-microg groups (p = 0.27). Postoperative morphine requirements in the 250-microg and 500-microg groups were 13.6 +/- 7.8 mg and 11.7 +/- 7.4 mg, compared with 21.3 +/- 6.2 mg in the placebo group (p = 0.001). There were no differences among the study groups with regard to postoperative midazolam, nitroglycerin, and sodium nitroprusside requirements.ConclusionsDespite decreased postoperative morphine requirements, intrathecal morphine administration did not have a clinically relevant effect on extubation time after CABG surgery. This study suggests that 250 microg is the optimal dose of intrathecal morphine to provide significant postoperative analgesia without delaying tracheal extubation.

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