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An audit of extradural infusion analgesia in children using bupivacaine and diamorphine
Author(s) -
Wilson P. T. J.,
LloydThomas A. R.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1993.tb07189.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bupivacaine , anesthesia , urinary retention , heroin , depression (economics) , audit , opiate , surgery , drug , receptor , management , psychiatry , economics , macroeconomics
Summary One hundred and fifty extradural infusions of diamorphine and bupivacaine after major surgery in children were audited over a 15 month period. The majority of the children (69%) were less than 5 years of age. Analgesia was assessed or selfrated as‘very good' in over 75% of patients. Urinary retention was seen in 11% of patients and pruritis in 10%. Respiratory depression requiring intervention was only seen in one patient–a premature infant of 39 weeks postconceptual age. Technical complications resulted in the early loss of 16.7% of the infusions. Although analgesia was good the complexity of the extradural infusion technique demanded significant medical and nursing time especially to overcome technical problems.