Effect of morphine combined with bupivacaine in lumbar anesthesia on postoperative pain relief and coagulation function

Objective To evaluate the effect of morphine and bupivacaine in lumbar anesthesia on postoperative pain relief and coagulation function.Methods Eighty patients scheduled for lower limb surgery were randomly divided into four groups and they were received intrathecal bupivacaine alone or combined with morphine for subarachnoid block.The levels of pain relief and the side effects of these anesthetics were observed within 48 hours after surgery and the changes of coagulation function were examined before and after surgery.Results The effect of pain relief by bupivacaine combined with 0.2 or 0.3 mg morphine was significantly superior to that by bupivacaine alone (P 0.01).PT and APTT were markedly prolonged and FIB was increased in the patients on bupivacaine plus 0.2 or 0.3 mg morphine compared to those in the patients before surgery or on bupivacaine alone (P 0.05).Conclusion Intrathecal injection of morphine has an obvious effect of pain relief and may inhibit the enhanced coagulation induced by surgical stress.