Gastric emptying: a study to compare the effects of intrathecal morphine and i.m. papaveretum analgesia.

Gastric emptying was studied in two groups of 10 patients who underwent elective cholecystectomy. The groups were comparable for age, weight and duration of operation. Gastric emptying was measured with a radioisotopic technique using Tc99m-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) before, and 24 h after, surgery. Analgesia was provided by intrathecal morphine 0.8 mg alone (group A) or by i.m. papaveretum 10 mg, administered as required, plus one additional dose 1 h before the postoperative measurement (group B). Control gastric emptying rates were not significantly different in the two groups (mean +/- SD: A = 76.6 +/- 23.0 ml; B = 81.8 +/- 16.3 ml in 30 min). After surgery, gastric emptying was significantly greater in group A (42.9 +/- 35.6 ml) than in group B (11.0 +/- 27.9 ml) (P less than 0.05).