Assessment of minidose intrathecal morphine for analgesia after hemorroidectomy

The efficacy of 0.5kg intrathecal morphine was tested on 10 patients who had hemorrhoidectomy performed at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. They were anesthetized with 3 mls of 0.5% intrathecal bupivacine to which 0.5mg of morphine was added. Another 14 patients had intrathecal 3 mls of 0.5% bupivacine with normal saline. Post-operative analgesia was prolonged in the opiate group compared to the saline group up to 8th post-operative hour. Narcotic analgesic requirement was much less in the opiate group. There were no serious complications in either group. In view of the excellent analgesia in the immediate post-operative period and absence of delayed respiratory depression usually associated with higher doses of spinal opiates it is recommended that use of the technique be encouraged in similar surgical patients for pain relief.