The Intrathecal Morphine for Nephrectomy

The Efficacy of Intrathecal Morphine in Patients Undergoing Open Nephrectomy

To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the intrathecal morphine injection in the open nephrectomy.

The open nephrectomy is the treatment of choice for live donor kidney transplantation and renal cell carcinoma. The incision for the nephrectomy causes severe postoperative pain. A single dose of intrathecal morphine(ITM) has been used for the postoperative pain of prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate and hepatectomy. The effect of ITM for open nephrectomy has not been studied. Therefore, this prospective, randomized study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single 50 mcg dose of ITM added to intravenous patient controlled analgesia(IV-PCA), comparing to IV-PCA alone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients scheduled for the open nephrectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with renal insufficiency
• Patients with coagulopathy
• History of any neurologic disorder
• History of recent infection in 2 weeks
• History of drug abuse
• Patients who cannot understand the usage of th intravenous patient-controlled analgesia
• Patients using opioids due to the chronic pain