Epidural scopolamine administration in preventing nausea after epidural morphine.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of epidural scopolamine in preventing nausea and vomiting in patients receiving epidural morphine.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind study.

SETTING

Inpatient surgery clinic at a regional general hospital.

PATIENTS

50 patients undergoing major abdominal and lower limb surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Morphine alone 2.5 to 4 mg was administered via epidural catheter to one group, while the other group received morphine plus scopolamine 0.25 mg via epidural catheter.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Occurrence of nausea and vomiting was recorded during the first postoperative day. Compared with the morphine alone group, the incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the morphine plus scopolamine group without difference in the adequacy of analgesia.

CONCLUSION

Epidural scopolamine can be used as an adjunct to epidural morphine in effectively reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.