Initial experience of continuous subarachnoid diamorphine infusion for postoperative pain relief

The quality of analgesia and incidence of side effects when using a continuous subarachnoid infusion of diamorphine were assessed in 28 postoperative patients who had undergone major abdominal or lower limb surgery. Excellent pain relief was obtained without depression of the respiratory rate. Four patients complained of headache, and 50% of those patients not already catheterized preoperatively subsequently required it for urinary retention. There was no evidence of sepsis related to the indwelling subarachnoid catheter.