Continuous morphine infusion for postoperative pain in children

Previous erratic use of intermittent intramuscular and intravenous morphine or pethidine for postoperative analgesia prompted a prospective trial of continuous intravenous morphine delivered by an infusion pump. The rate was adjusted to keep the patient free of pain--as assessed by observation in the infant and enquiry in the older child. Serum morphine levels were monitored for the first 36 hours. The results of a cohort of 20 patients (aged 3 months-12 years) are presented. Thanks to positive parental and nursing staff support, and absence of complications, administration of postoperative analgesia with continuous intravenous morphine infusion is now standard practice in this unit.