[Efficacy and side effects of epidural opioids depending on the site of surgery]

We reported the requirement of supplemental analgesics following epidural opioids including Opial 5mg and 10mg, and morphine HCl 2.5mg, for 24 hours in postoperative period after surgery of body surface, and lower and upper abdominal surgeries. Incidence of their side effects was also observed. Opial contains 50% morphine HCl and other opioids such as codeine, thebaine, papaverine, and noscapine etc. After upper abdominal surgeries, patients required additional analgesics more frequently. Kinds and doses of opioids used, suggest that epidural administration of other opioids contained in Opial has some analgesic effect. After the surgery of body surface the opioid requirement may be influenced by the intraoperative anesthetic technics and the state of mind of the patient. Urinary retention was the most interesting side effect observed and our data suggest that papaverine contained in Opial may have favorable effect and morphine HCl may have adverse effects regarding its incidence.