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Epidural morphine pruritus reduction with hydroxyzine in parturients
M M Juneja1, W E Ackerman, K Bellinger
1Department of Anesthesiology, Norton Hospital, Louisville, KY 40232-5070.
The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Prophylactic hydroxyzine effectively reduced severe pruritus after epidural morphine for cesarean sections. This finding offers a new strategy to manage common side effects, improving patient comfort post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Post-cesarean section patients commonly experience pruritus, nausea, and emesis after epidural morphine.
- Current treatments like naloxone or diphenhydramine aim to manage these side effects.
- Reducing the incidence of these adverse events is a key clinical objective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic hydroxyzine in preventing or reducing pruritus incidence and severity.
- To assess the impact of hydroxyzine on side effects following epidural morphine administration.
Main Methods:
- A randomized study involving 40 patients undergoing cesarean section who requested epidural morphine.
- Group I (n=20) received saline placebo; Group II (n=20) received 50 mg hydroxyzine intramuscularly.
- Both groups received 5 mg epidural morphine, with hydroxyzine/saline administered 10 minutes post-morphine.
Main Results:
- Hydroxyzine administration significantly attenuated the incidence of severe pruritus.
- The study demonstrated hydroxyzine's efficacy in managing a common side effect of epidural morphine.
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic hydroxyzine is effective in reducing severe pruritus associated with epidural morphine.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for improving patient comfort after cesarean delivery.