Spinal opioids: a nursing perspective

Nursing care of the patient receiving spinal opioids for pain control is reviewed in a comprehensive manner. Selection of patients, nursing management and patient outcomes are discussed. Three pain control techniques are described: epidural opioid injection for cancer pain, epidural opioid infusion for acute postoperative pain, and single dose spinal opioids for postcesarean section pain. Monitoring and pharmacologic aspects common to all three forms of spinal opioid treatment are given, and specific nursing interventions for each therapy are delineated.