Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
A Conditioned Place Preference Protocol for Measuring Incubation of Craving in Rats
Published on: November 6, 2018
Effect of morphine on cerebral activity of extremely premature infants
Miriam Peled1, Avishag Abuhatzira1, Lena Novack2
1Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Israel; Soroka Medical Center, Neonatal Department, Israel.
Insights
Morphine sedation in premature infants significantly depresses cerebral activity. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) showed worsened background activity and loss of cycling within hours of morphine initiation.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Morphine is commonly used for sedation in extremely preterm infants.
- Potential long-term neurodevelopmental effects of morphine are a concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the immediate impact of morphine on cerebral activity in extremely preterm infants.
- To assess changes in background activity and cycling patterns on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 140 infants < 28 weeks gestational age (GA).
- Continuous monitoring using aEEG for 12 hours, including baseline and 6 consecutive 2-hour periods after morphine initiation.
- Assessment of background activity score and presence of cycling.
Main Results:
- Background aEEG activity worsened in 40% of infants by 6 hours.
- Cycling, initially present in 70%, was detected in only 10% after 10 hours.
- Morphine administration was associated with a significant decrease in background activity and increased risk of cycling loss.
Conclusions:
- Continuous morphine infusion significantly depresses cerebral activity in extremely preterm infants shortly after administration.
- Findings highlight the need for careful monitoring of cerebral function during morphine sedation in this vulnerable population.
Background:
Morphine is widely used for sedation in premature infants and may have long-term effects on neurodevelopmental outcome.
Aims:
To assess its effect on cerebral activity of extremely preterm infants.
Methods:
Retrospective study in infants less than 28 weeks of gestational age (GA), treated with morphine and monitored with amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG), that were assessed at baseline and 6 consecutive 2 h periods. At each period, the background activity score and presence of cycling were determined.
Results:
A total of 140 infants were included. Background aEEG activity score worsened in 40% of the infants by 6 h after morphine initiation and cycling, initially present in 70% of the infants, could be detected in only 10% after 10 h. On multivariable analysis, adjusted for baseline aEEG score and GA, the background activity decreased by 0.85 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-0.97) immediately after morphine initiation, 0.72 (CI: 0.63-0.83) at 2 h later and on average by 0.64 (CI: 0.57-0.71) at each subsequent 2 h periods. The relative risk of cycling loss at 2 h and 4 h after morphine administration was 1.58 (CI: 1.15-2.16) and 3.37 (CI: 2.23-5.08), respectively.
Conclusions:
Continuous infusion of morphine in extremely preterm infants significantly depresses their cerebral activity soon after its commencement.
More Related Videos
07:23Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
05:52Early Pathological and Magnetic Resonance Detection of Cerebral Injury Using a Rat Model of Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Published on: October 28, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
01:20Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview