Effects of simultaneous epidural administration of ropivacaine and morphine on the post-operative pain in the gynecologic patients

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of simultaneous epidural administration of ropivacaine with morphine on the level of the post-operative METHODS: Forty-one patients were assigned to one of three groups ropivacaine (R), ropivacaine + morphine (RM) or morphine (M)]. In the R group, 5 ml of 1% ropivacaine bolus was administered just before the skin incision followed by infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine (5 ml x hr(-1)) during the first 48 hours after the operation. In the RM and M groups, 5 ml of 1% ropivacaine + 2 mg of morphine bolus was administered just before the skin incision followed by infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine (RM group, 5 ml x hr(-1)) or saline (M group, 5 ml x hr(-1)) + 4 mg x day(-1) of morphine during the first 48 hours after the operation. RESULTS: The score of post-operative pain in the R group is higher than that of the MR group or that of M group. There is no difference between the score of post-operative pain of the MR group and that of the M group. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggested that simultaneous epidural administration of ropivacaine with morphine produces no beneficial effect as compared with morphine alone.