An audit of morphine versus fentanyl as an adjuct to ropivacaine 0.2% for high thoracic epidural analgesia

Abstract

When used as an adjunct to local anaesthetic, opioid administered via the epidural route can improve the quality of analgesia. Reports of respiratory depression associated with epidural morphine use as a sole agent in the 1980s led to an increased use of lipophilic opioids, especially fentanyl. Although fentanyl is commonly used, controversy exists about its efficacy and site of action. It ispossible that low-dose morphine may be more effective than fentanyl, without increasing the risk of respiratory depression. A retrospective audit was conducted of 200 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery who received high thoracic epidural analgesia. One hundred patients who rec..