Safety and side-effect profile of intrathecal morphine in a diverse patient population undergoing total knee and hip arthroplasty

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - Intrathecal morphine (ITM) can be useful for postoperative analgesia following lower extremity joint arthroplasty, but concerns exist...     

Optimization of the dose of intrathecal morphine in total hip surgery: a dose-finding study

We designed this study to determine the optimal intrathecal dose of morphine in total hip surgery. The optimal intrathecal dose was defined as that providing effective analgesia and minimal side effects 24 h after total hip surgery. Patients (n = 143) scheduled for total hip surgery were randomized to four double-blinded groups with a standardized bupivacaine dose but different doses of intrathecal morphine (Group I = 0.025 mg, Group II = 0.05 mg, Group III = 0.1 mg, and Group IV = 0.2 mg). Pain scores, i.v. morphine intake (patient-controlled analgesia), and morphine-related side effects (respiratory depression, postoperative nausea and vomiting, itching, urinary retention) were recorded for 24 h after surgery. Excellent postoperative pain relief was present in all groups. The highest pain scores were found in Group I. The mean use of systemic morphine administered by patient-controlled analgesia infusion pump was 23.7, 17.8, 10.9, and 9.9 mg in Groups I-IV, respectively (P < 0.01 for Groups III and IV versus Group I). We conclude that 0.1 mg of intrathecal morphine is the optimal dose for pain relief after hip surgery with minimal side effects. Implications: Earlier studies showed excellent postoperative pain relief after intrathecal morphine. However, the severity of side effects resulted in decreased enthusiasm for this anesthesia technique. In the present study, we show that an intrathecal dose of 0.1 mg of morphine can be used safely in total hip surgery with excellent postoperative pain relief.     

Is intrathecal morphine of benefit to patients undergoing cardiac surgery

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed is whether intrathecal morphine is of benefit to patients undergoing cardiac surgery? Using the reported search 850 papers were identified. Ten papers represented the best evidence on the subject. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study comments and weaknesses were tabulated. The ten papers demonstrated that intrathecal morphine reduces postoperative pain scores, increases time to first IV morphine dose and reduces the overall postoperative IV morphine dose required, indicating its analgesic effect. Opioid-related complications remained comparable to controls, however, other benefits of reduced time to extubation, reduced ICU stay and improved postoperative lung function are variably reported with significant results found only in small retrospective studies. No spinal haematomas were reported, however, high-risk patients were excluded. We conclude that intrathecal morphine is an alternative method of pre-induction analgesia that benefits patients as less postoperative IV morphine is required, however, other benefits are less well reported.     

The expectations of patients undergoing revision hip arthroplasty

Sixty patients were prospectively assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale for osteoarthritis of the hip and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) general health status scale as well as the expectation WOMAC, which asked patients to estimate how they expected to feel 6 months after revision hip arthroplasty. There was a wide range of expectations, but we were unable to find any significant correlation between the patients' preoperative pain and stiffness levels and their expectations for pain and stiffness after revision hip arthroplasty. There was no significant correlation between the SF-36 scores and the patients' expectations. Our findings suggest that the expectations of patients awaiting revision hip arthroplasties are high and are not related closely to the level of preoperative disability.     

Low dose intrathecal morphine and postoperative pain relief in elderly patients]

Patient (ASA PS I-III, mean age 68 +/- 14 yr) who had undergone lower extremity surgery under spinal anesthesia were studied to determine the effect of intrathecal administration of morphine 0.1 mg on intra- and postoperative pain relief and its side effects. They were randomly divided into control (C) and intrathecal morphine (M) groups (n = 25, respectively) and received 10 mg tetracaine in 4 ml of a quarter saline with 7.5 micrograms epinephrine. Incidence of intraoperative tourniquet pain was significantly lower in M group (36.8%) than in C group (64.3%). Postoperative pain was examined in terms of the duration until the first supplemental analgesic within 24 hr. The mean duration was 7.0 +/- 4.3 hr in the control group, but 11 patients in the M group needed it within 24 hr (18.1 +/- 6.8 hr, excluding 6 patients who did not receive analgesic). Although incidences of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and itching were higher in M group than in C group, none required antiemetic or naloxone. Both groups showed no difference in postoperative respiratory depression measured by apnea monitor (Eden Trace II, Mallinkrodt Japan, Tokyo). The results suggest that a low dose of intrathecal morphine is effective on postoperative 24 hr pain relief in elderly patients and that its side effects are negligible.     

The use of epidural morphine in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Sixty-six patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were offered epidural morphine as a method of postoperative analgesia. Of the 66 patients, 50 completed the minimum protocol of 3 days in a special epidural monitoring unit and were thus available for study. In this study group, 86% stated that they obtained 75-100% relief of pain with each epidural injection. Greater than 90% of the patients rated the overall experience with epidural analgesia as excellent or good. Ninety percent stated that they would choose epidural morphine analgesia again if given the choice. Nausea and vomiting were the most common adverse effects, occurring in 34%. One patient experienced respiratory depression, which was reversed with Narcan. The most frequent complaint related to the procedure itself was the use of an apnea monitor; 18% of the patients considered this monitoring device intolerable. The progress of total knee arthroplasties in the epidural unit was monitored by range of motion achieved. At 72 hours the average motion was 10 degrees-87 degrees and at the end of the hospital stay was 6 degrees-98 degrees. The total hospital bill for epidural morphine analgesic patients was $469 more than for a conventional arthroplasty patient, though the mean duration of hospital stay was 1.7 days less for the epidural morphine patients. Epidural morphine provided excellent but inconsistent postoperative pain relief. When relief was present, aggressive in-house rehabilitation could be instituted, and a shorter overall hospital stay was achieved when compared with conventional analgesia. Nonetheless, the related adverse effects and inconsistent pain relief on many patients may preclude the use of epidural morphine as a single postoperative analgesic agent.     

Revision total hip arthroplasty in patients 80 years or older

We evaluated all revisions performed from March 1996 to December 2008 and compared complications, mortality, and clinical outcomes between patients 80 years and older and patients younger than 80 years. Data were collected prospectively. There were 325 revisions, 84 (25.8%) in patients 80 years and older and 241 in patients younger than 80 years (62% revision for aseptic loosening in both groups). The mean follow-up was 4.3 years. The results, 80 years and older vs younger than 80 years, revealed the following: mortality, 5% vs 0% 3 months postoperatively; medical complications in 23.8% vs 6.2%; postoperative fractures, 9.5% vs 2.5%; and improved Merle d'Aubigné scores from 9.6 to 13.0 vs 10.4 to 14.3. Revision total hip arthroplasty in patients 80 years and older was associated with substantial clinical improvement and patient satisfaction. However, medical complications and 90-day mortality were higher, and postoperative fractures occurred more frequently.     

Preoperative lower limb venography in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty

Using bilateral ascending venography, the authors examined 93 consecutive patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for the presence of asymptomatic preoperative leg vein thrombosis. Radiologic abnormalities were seen in only four patients, and this was not statistically significant (P greater than .1). There were no complications from the procedure. It is suggested that routine preoperative screening for deep vein thrombosis prior to hip arthroplasty is unnecessary but may be appropriate in patients at particularly high risk for thromboembolic complications.     

Low-dose intrathecal morphine for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate

Thirty patients undergoing lidocaine spinal anesthesia for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) were studied to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose intrathecal morphine (ITM) for postoperative analgesia. In a double-blinded fashion, groups of ten patients received either 0.1 mg morphine, 0.2 mg morphine, or placebo (control group) intrathecally with lidocaine 75 mg. Standard postoperative analgesics were available to all patients. Patients receiving 0.1 mg or 0.2 mg morphine reported significantly less postoperative pain as assessed by an inverse numerical visual pain scale and required significantly fewer postoperative analgesic interventions than the control group. There was no difference between the 0.1 mg ITM and 0.2 mg ITM groups with regard to severity of postoperative pain or analgesic requirements. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly higher in the group receiving 0.2 mg ITM than in the control group. Six patients (60%) in the 0.2 mg ITM group, two patients (20%) in the 0.1 mg ITM group, and one patient (10%) in the control group experienced nausea and vomiting. No clinically evident respiratory depression occurred in any of the subjects. The authors conclude that administration of 0.1 mg or 0.2 mg of morphine intrathecally is effective in reducing postoperative pain following TURP and that 0.1 mg ITM is not associated with nausea and vomiting.     

老龄患者髋关节表面置换术的探讨及早期随访结果

目的探讨老龄患者选择髋关节表面置换术的优越性及其临床应用的安全性。方法本组18例患者，男8例、女10例，平均年龄65．2岁，病因为骨性关节炎、股骨头骨坏死及类风湿性关节炎。术后随访平均24个月（9—30个月），术前、术后采用Harris评分及UCLA运动水平积分评价髋关节功能及运动能力。术后1、12及24个月的X线片对比股骨近端骨折疏松情况的变化。结果患者术后无出现脱位、股骨颈骨折及感染等并发症。术前Harris积分评均为34．2分，术后为93．9分，术前改良的UCLA运动积分平均为3．2分，术后为8．8分，12例患者股骨近端骨质疏松状况有所改善，6例患者无显著变化。18例患者均对术后髋关节功能及运动能力非常满意。结论髋关节表面置换术在运动能力和股骨近端废用性骨质疏松的改善有其独特的优越性，适合于活动量大并有运动能力需求的老龄患者。     

Stability of total hip arthroplasty in patients 75 years or older

Increasing patient age (> 75 years) is a known risk factor for dislocation of total hip arthroplasty. This is a study of total hip arthroplasties by one surgeon in patients 75 years or older to determine the prevalence of dislocation and a review of the surgical options for prevention and treatment of instability in this population. Of 140 primary total hip arthroplasties done in patients 75 years or older who were followed up for at least 1 year, the preoperative diagnosis was osteoarthritis in 82% and the mean followup time was 4 years. The acetabular component was cementless: modular in 121 arthroplasties and cemented in 19 arthroplasties. There were five dislocations (3.5%), but only two were recurrent and the patients were treated successfully by modular component exchange. Bipolar arthroplasty has a lower rate of dislocation, but there are problems with residual pain and high rates of reoperation, wear, and osteolysis. Constrained components may be indicated in older patients with dementia, abductor insufficiency, or failure of modular exchange. Large femoral heads, to increase the range of motion before dislocation occurs, may be used with highly cross-linked acetabular liners. Modular cementless acetabular components are preferable in patients who are 75 years or older. A 28-mm or 32-mm femoral head is recommended, but larger femoral heads should be considered in patients with fractures and for the treatment of recurrent dislocation.