Comparison of different bolus doses of morphine for patient-controlled analgesia in children

Abstract

Forty children undergoing appendicectomy were allocated randomly to receive one of two PCA regimens with morphine. Group B10 received bolus doses of 10 μg kg-1 and group B20 received bolus doses of 20 μg kg-1. In both groups there was a lockout interval of 5 min and a background infusion of 4 μg kg-1 h-1. Group B20 self-administered considerably more morphine (P < 0.01) than group B10. There was no difference between the pain scores of the groups at rest. Group B20 had significantly (P < 0.05) smaller pain scores during movement than group B10 and the latter group suffered significantly (P < 0.01) more hypoxaemic episodes than group B20. There were no differences between the groups in the incidence of vomiting, excess sedation or the amount of time spent asleep at night. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1994; 72: 160-163) © 1994 British Journal of Anaesthesia.