[A double-blind comparison of epidural buprenorphine and epidural morphine in postoperative pain (author's transl)].

Morphine (5 mg) and buprenorphine (0.15 mg) given by the epidural route were compared in 50 patients recovering from abdominal surgery. Pain relief score, sedation score and clinical measures were evaluated in a double-blind study. Both substances produced thorough analgesia with short latency (2-6 min) of long duration (8-9 h). Side effects were encountered in some morphine cases only, but never therapy had to be discontinued. Total lack of side effects with buprenorphine favours its application in epidural pain relief.