Disposition and respiratory effects of intrathecal morphine in children

David Nichols, Myron Yaster, A. M. Lynn, M. A. Helfaer, J. K. Deshpande, Paul Manson, B. S. Carson, M. Bezman, L. G. Maxwell, J. D. Tobias, Louise Barnett Grochow

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47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The extent and duration of respiratory depression after opioid administration are poorly defined in infants and children. Methods: The disposition and respiratory effects of intrathecal morphine were studied in ten patients (ages 4 months-15 yr) after repair of craniofacial defects. Morphine, 0.02 mg/kg, was administered intrathecally before the end of surgery. Postoperatively, we determined the minute ventilation (V(E)) in response to increasing partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PET(CO2)) during carbon dioxide rebreathing. The slope (V(E)/PET(CO2)) and intercept (V(E) at PET(CO2) 60 mmHg, V(E) 60) of the carbon dioxide response curve were calculated at 6, 12, and 18 h after morphine administration. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood were analyzed for morphine concentration by radioimmunoassay. Results: Mean V(E)/PET(CO2) decreased from a preoperative value of 35.1 ± 3.7 to 16.3 ± 2.8 ml · kg-1 · min-1 · mmHg-1 at 6 h after morphine, and remained depressed to 23.4 ± 2.9 and 23.5 ± 3.3 ml · kg-1 · min-1 · mmHg-1 at 12 h and 18 h, respectively, compared to preoperatively). The infants' (n = 3) V(E)/PET(CO2) at 6 h were 21, 4, and 27 ml · kg-1 · min-1 · mmHg- 1. Mean V(E) 60 decreased from 874 ± 125 to 276 ± 32 ml · kg-1 · min- 1 at 6 h, but then recovered at 12 and 18 h to 491 ± 68 and 567 ± 82 ml · kg-1 · min-1, respectively. The infants' V(E) 60 at 6 h were 350, 142, and 245 ml · kg-1 · min-1. Mean CSF morphine concentration was 2,860 ± 540 ng/ml at 6 h, and decreased to 640 ± 220 and 220 ± 150 ng/ml at 12 and 18 h, respectively. Conclusions: Intrathecal morphine, 0.02 mg/kg, depressed the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide for up to 18 h concomitant with increased CSF morphine concentrations. Infants (4-12 months of age) did not exhibit greater ventilatory depression than did children (2-15 yr of age).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)733-738
Number of pages6
JournalAnesthesiology
Volume79
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

Keywords

  • Analgesia, postoperative
  • Analgesics, opioid: intrathecal morphine
  • Anesthesia, pediatric
  • Cerebrospinal fluid
  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Ventilation, carbon dioxide response

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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