• J F Mayhew, R C Brodsky, D Blakey, and W Petersen.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, USA.
• J Clin Anesth. 1995 Dec 1; 7 (8): 640-2.

Study ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of morphine 0.03 mg/kg or 0.04 mg/kg administered caudally to children for postoperative pain relief.DesignRetrospective chart review.SettingUniversity-affiliated hospital.PatientsThe charts of 500 children who had undergone various surgical procedures and who were given caudal morphine 0.03 mg/kg or 0.04 mg/kg either prior to the surgical procedure or immediately at the conclusion of the surgical procedure.Measurements And Main ResultsParameters of respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, nausea and vomiting, voiding problems, and pruritus were recorded for each patient. There was no respiratory depression noted in the review of the 500 patients; 23% had nausea and vomiting, 3% had voiding problems needing bladder catheterization, and 7% reported pruritus, which was treated with either diphenhydramine or naloxone.ConclusionStatistically there were no differences between morphine 0.03 mg/kg and morphine 0.04 mg/kg in all the study parameters. There was no respiratory depression in the 500 cases reviewed. The postoperative pain relief ranged from 6 hours to over 24 hours. This method of immediate postoperative pain management proved to be effective and safe.

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