ABSTRACT
A double-blind controlled study was done on 42 patients to test the analgesic activity of epidural morphine after lumber laminectomy for single level disc herniation. Sixteen patients received 3 mg preservative-free morphine. Twenty-six patients received normal saline. The patients given epidural morphine had a longer postoperative pain-free period (6.28 vs 2.37 hours) and needed less postoperative analgesia (0.2 vs 0.9 times for paracetamol, and 0.16 vs 0.51 times for morphine). Epidural morphine injection under direct vision during discectomy operation is an effective and safe method for postoperative pain relief.
Subject(s)
Adult , Analgesia, Epidural/methods , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Intraoperative Period , Laminectomy , Male , Middle Aged , Morphine/administration & dosage , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
We found that this simple nerve stimulator which gave a direct current of 4.8 volts, 0.1 to 1.5 mA and 2.0 mA pulse of 60 cycles/min using 9 volts dry cells was useful for peripheral nerve surgery. It is cheap and easy to maintain. Surgeons who are interested in this simple nerve stimulator can adopt this idea themselves or can contact the authors.