Continuous epidural morphine analgesia after radical operations upon the pelvis.

Sixty-seven patients with gynecologic malignant disease received continuous epidural morphine as a postoperative analgesic after radical surgical treatment. An average of 0.005 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per hour of morphine was given, with a mean total postoperative dose of 33.42 milligrams. Pain control was excellent in 88 per cent of the patients and no major complications occurred with this technique. Side effects included: nausea (33 per cent); vomiting (9 per cent), and generalized pruritus (25 per cent). Epidural morphine provided a constant pain-free state with unimpaired consciousness, normal motor function and hemodynamic stability. This technique allows the early institution of aggressive physiotherapy with an actively participating patient and provides an ideal postoperative analgesia for the high risk patient to be cared for in an intensive nursing area.