Continuous-plus-on-demand epidural infusion of buprenorphine versus morphine in postoperative treatment of pain. Postoperative epidural infusion of buprenorphine.

In a randomized, double-blind study, buprenorphine was compared with morphine in the treatment of pain after major abdominal operations by means of continuous-plus-on-demand epidural infusion for constant analgesia. The patients received bolus epidural injections of 0.15 mg buprenorphine or 2 mg morphine-HCl prior to an on-demand epidural infusion of 0.03% buprenorphine or 0.25% morphine HCl at a basal rate of 0.06 ml/h. Over 50 h, mean buprenorphine consumption was 0.85 +/- 0.08 mg, and mean morphine consumption was 6.4 +/- 0.5 mg. Under the treatment, no discomfort or side-effects necessitating treatment occurred. We conclude that buprenorphine is a useful substitute for morphine in the treatment of pain after major abdominal operations by continuous-plus-on-demand epidural infusion, and that the relative analgesic potency ratio of epidural buprenorphine is 8.