Intrathecal morphine reduces postoperative tramadol consumption in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy: a randomized trial

M. Nuri Deniz, E. Erhan, G. Ugur

Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. mnurideniz@hotmail.com

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• Anesthesiology

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal (IT) morphine provides prolonged analgesia after major surgery.

AIM: The aim of our study was to assess the impact of intrathecal morphine 200 µg on patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) tramadol consumptions and postoperative pain in patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) under general anesthesia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective trial, 56 men who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) were randomized into 2 groups. Group M received intrathecal morphine (200 µg) before the induction of general anesthesia. Group C did not receive intrathecal morphine. Postoperative analgesia was provided with tramadol PCA. Pain scores, tramadol consumption, adverse effects, rescue analgesia were recorded.

RESULTS: Total tramadol consumption at 24 hours and pain scores during 12 hours postoperatively were significantly lower in Group M compared with Group C (p < 0.05). Rescue analgesia and postoperative nausea were lower in Group M than in Group C (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal morphine 200 µg provided a significant reduction in tramadol consumption, postoperative pain scores, rescue analgesia, and postoperative nausea after RRP without serious adverse effects.

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