Epidural administration of morphine postoperatively for morbidly obese patients.

Two groups of morbidly obese patients undergoing a gastric stapling procedure were compared. Patients in group I received 5 mg of morphine through a lumbar epidural catheter immediately after the surgical procedure while group II patients were treated conventionally with parenterally administered morphine. In group I less narcotics were needed and patients were able to walk earlier than in group II. Length of hospital stay, time to removal of the nasogastric tube and postoperative pulmonary function were not significantly different between groups. Two patients in group I and one patient in group II had generalized pruritus, and in one study patient bradypnea developed in association with the epidural administration of morphine. It is concluded that morbidly obese patients can benefit from epidurally administered morphine and that this form of therapy has a role in the management of these patients.