Respiratory Depression and Morphine Concentration in Serum after Epidural and Intramuscular Administration of Morphine

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Abstract
The ventilatory response to CO2 and the serum level of free morphine were measured in 6 adult patients scheduled for operation under lumbar epidural analgesia. The investigation was performed on 2 consecutive days before the operation. The measurements were performed before and 30 and 90 min after the i.m. administration of morphine chloride (0.15 mg/kg body wt) as well as lumbar epidural administration of morphine chloride (5 mg morphine chloride diluted in 10 ml isotonic saline). The ventilatory response to CO2 was depressed significantly both 30 and 90 min after epidurally administered morphine compared to the control value, while the depression of the ventilatory response was demonstrated in only 5 of 6 patients 30 min after i.m. administered morphine. The peak serum levels of free morphine were reached within 20 min of administration and it seemed that the injected quantity of morphine, not the method of administration, determined the serum level.

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