INTRATHECAL MORPHINE FOR PEDIATRIC RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Many pediatric renal transplant recipients have significant discomfort in the early postoperative period despite opioid administration. Intrathecal morphine is safe and effective for pain control in children. We examined our results with the use of intrathecal morphine for postoperative analgesia in renal transplant recipients at our institution. The morphine was administered while the patients were under general anesthesia. Seventeen of 22 patients received excellent pain control and there were few minor and no major complications. Intrathecal morphine is beneficial for postoperative analgesia in pediatric renal transplant recipients.