Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Collecting And Measuring Wound Exudate Biochemical Mediators In Surgical Wounds
Published on: October 20, 2012
Analgesic effects of intrathecal morphine and bupivacaine during robotic-assisted surgery: A prospective randomized
Anders J E Engström1, Carina A Ivarsson2, Åsa Aldergård2
1Department of Gynaecology, Central Hospital of Karlstad, Karlstad, Sweden.
Background:
Limited data exist concerning the management of postoperative pain after robotic-assisted surgery. The present study was performed to investigate the efficacy of intrathecal morphine and bupivacaine to treat postoperative pain in adult women undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Methods:
The primary outcomes of this study were opioid consumption and pain scores during and after robotic surgery. 96 patients were prospectively enrolled and randomized to a nonspinal group (n = 48) and a spinal group (n = 48). The intrathecal regimen consisted of 100 μg morphine and 15 mg of bupivacaine. The numeric rating scale scores (NRS) were assessed every 15 min in the postoperative care unit (PACU) and pain was treated with iv fentanyl or morphine when NRS was above 5 and orally oxycodone when NRS was 3-5. Cumulative iv opioid-consumption and NRS scores were compared.
Results:
Intrathecal morphine and bupivacaine resulted in a significantly lower cumulative total iv opioid (morphine equivalents) consumption (9.4 ± 3.9 vs. 22.8 ± 6.1 mg equivalents). Highest recorded NRS scores in the PACU were also significantly lower in the spinal group (2.0 ± 2.6 vs. 5.3 ± 3.2).
Conclusion:
Intrathecal morphine and bupivacaine to treat postoperative pain after robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy decrease total opioid consumption and NRS pain scores. This might be of great importance to diminish the rate of other serious disadvantages related to opioids.
Related Concept Videos
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia
One of the advantages of...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses
Analgesia and Pain Management

