Analgesia following extradural and i.m. pethidine in post-caesarean section patients

The onset, quality and duration of analgesia following extradural pethidine 50 mg and i.m. pethidine 100 mg was assessed in 30 postoperative patients who had undergone Caesarean section under extradural anaesthesia. Saline and pethidine were given in a randomized, double-blind fashion using simultaneous extradural and i.m. injections. Extradural pethidine provided superior analgesia, of quicker onset but similar duration, and both treatments were associated with a low incidence of side effects.