Experiences with epidural morphine in obstetrics.

Morphine (2--6 mg) injected into the epidural space was ineffective in relieving the pain of labour in eight patients. Morphine (2 mg) injected into the epidural space of 60 patients whilst they were undergoing Caesarean section was associated only modestly, if at all, with a diminished incidence of postoperative pain and discomfort, when compared with the epidural injection of saline in 60 patients matched for type of operation and type of anaesthesia. A relatively high incidence of postoperative vomiting was noted among the patients who received morphine.