A retrospective assessment of the incidence of respiratory depression after neuraxial morphine administration for postcesarean delivery analgesia

Anesth Analg. 2013 Dec;117(6):1368-70. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3182a9b042.

Abstract

Respiratory depression can occur after neuraxial morphine administration. In the obstetric population, there are little data on respiratory depression after neuraxial morphine administration in women undergoing cesarean delivery. In this single-center, retrospective study in 5036 obstetric patients (mean body mass index = 34 kg/m) who underwent cesarean delivery and received neuraxial morphine, we did not identify any instances of respiratory depression requiring naloxone administration or rapid response team involvement. Therefore, the upper 95% confidence limit for respiratory depression in our study is 0.07% (1 event per 1429 cases).

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers
  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects*
  • Cesarean Section / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Morphine / administration & dosage
  • Morphine / adverse effects*
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy*
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / chemically induced*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Morphine