Comparison of different bolus doses of morphine for patient-controlled analgesia in children.

Forty children undergoing appendicectomy were allocated randomly to receive one of two PCA regimens with morphine. Group B10 received bolus doses of 10 micrograms kg-1 and group B20 received bolus doses of 20 micrograms kg-1. In both groups there was a lockout interval of 5 min and a background infusion of 4 micrograms kg-1 h-1. Group B20 self-administered considerably more morphine (P < 0.01) than group B10. There was no difference between the pain scores of the groups at rest. Group B20 had significantly (P < 0.05) smaller pain scores during movement than group B10 and the latter group suffered significantly (P < 0.01) more hypoxaemic episodes than group B20. There were no differences between the groups in the incidence of vomiting, excess sedation or the amount of time spent asleep at night.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes