Epidural morphine injections for prevention of post dural puncture headache

Anaesthesia. 2008 Aug;63(8):847-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2008.05494.x. Epub 2008 Jun 10.

Abstract

A prospective, randomised, double-blind trial was conducted to study the effect of epidural morphine in prevention of post dural puncture headache in 25 parturients after inadvertent dural puncture. Women were randomly allocated to receive two epidural injections, 24 h apart, of either 3 mg morphine in 10 ml saline (morphine group) or 10 ml saline (saline group). The incidence of headache and need for therapeutic epidural blood patch were reported. There was a significant difference in the incidence of headache between the two groups: 3/25 (12%) in the morphine group and 12/25 (48%) in the saline group (p = 0.014). Therapeutic epidural blood patches were required in six patients in the saline group and none of the patient in the morphine group (p = 0.022). It was concluded that epidural morphine appears to be a simple and effective technique for prevention of post dural puncture headache after accidental dural puncture in high risk obstetric patients.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesia, Epidural / adverse effects*
  • Analgesia, Obstetrical / adverse effects*
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage*
  • Blood Patch, Epidural
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Epidural
  • Morphine / administration & dosage*
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache / etiology
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache / prevention & control*
  • Pregnancy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Morphine