comparative study of caudal morphine or ketamine for post-operative analgesia in children

In a randomized double-blind study of 30 children [aged 18 months - 6 yr.] pain following herniotomy was releived with a caudal injection of either 0.1 mg kg - 1 morphine or 0.5 mg kg -1 ketamine with normal saline 1 ml. kg. -1. There was no significant difference in post-operative behaviour or analgesic requirements between two groups. The morphine group provided better analgesia than the Ketamine group. Side effects such as urinary retention, vomiting, respiratory depresion were minimal in both groups