Epidural Morphine for Relief of Postpartum, Postsurgical Pain |
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| Authors: | MARIBETH INTURRISI RN MSN CATHERINE FELEPPA CAMENGA RN BA MARK ROSEN MD |
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| Affiliation: | Maribeth Inturrisi is a clinical specialist in obstetrics and an assistant clinical professor of nursing at the Medical Center at the University of California in San Francisco, California. Ms. Inturrisi is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Phi Kappa Phi, and NAACOG.;Catherine Feleppa Camenga is a clinical nurse II on the obstetric service at the Medical Center at the University of California in San Francisco, California. Ms. Camenga is a member of NAACOG.;Mark Rosen is an assistant professor of anesthesia and obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the Medical Center at University of California in San Francisco, California. Dr. Rosen is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Society of Obstetric Anesthesiologists and Perinatologists. |
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| Abstract: | Epidural morphine for the relief of postpartum, postsurgical pain has been used as the analgesic of choice at the Medical Center at the University of California in San Francisco, California, since 1980. Maternal benefits observed by nursing staff include prolonged pain relief, uninterrupted bonding, early ambulation, improved respiratory ventilation, reduced sedation, and overall early recovery. Because the analgesic effects of epidural morphine last about 24 hours, nurses must provide close observations and assessments of potential side effects such as respiratory depression, pruritis, nausea/vomiting, and urinary retention. |
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