Intrathecal opiates

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Comparison of efficacy and side effects of intrathecal fentanyl with intrathecal morphine

• IRAS ID

  17265

• Sponsor organisation

  Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust

• Eudract number

  2009-011458-16

• ISRCTN Number

  N/A

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A

• Research summary

  Fentanyl and diamorphine have been used as addition to local anaesthetics traditionally to lengthen the time that spinal anaesthesia will last. Studies have shown that the usage of intrathecal fentanyl only increases analgesia by about an hour, whereas diamorphine improves analgesia up to 5 hours and halves the usage of other painkillers. However, with the national shortage of diamorphine, many anaesthetists are now using morphine instead.Morphine is less lipid soluble than diamorphine and patients are theoretically at more risk of delayed side effects such as persistent hypotension and respiratory depression.Studies have recommended the usage of 200mcg of intrathecal morphine might be excessive. Therefore, we are using 25mcg of fentanyl and 2.5 ml of 0.5% heavy bupivacaine as our control group and then comparing 2 groups, one with 50mcg of morphine and 2.5 ml of 0.5% heavy bupivacaine (Group A) and one group of 100mcg of morphine and 2.5 ml of 0.5% heavy bupivacaine (Group B).It is important to determine if the current practice of intrathecal morphine is safe and effective for patients and also which dose of morphine is indicated.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  09/H1208/30

• Date of REC Opinion

  10 Sep 2009

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion