A study of naloxone effect on urinary retention in the patient receiving morphine patient-controlled analgesia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare urinary retention rates following orthopaedic surgery in patients who received low-dose intravenous naloxone while receiving morphine patient-controlled analgesia with patients who did not receive naloxone.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial without blinding.

SAMPLE: There were 97 participants consenting to the study, 45 were randomly assigned to a control group and 52 assigned to an experimental group. Forty-three patients in the control group and 47 in the experimental group (90 total) completed the study protocol.

FINDINGS: Postoperative urinary residuals were lower, patients voided more frequently, and fewer catheterizations were needed when given low-dose naloxone while receiving morphine patient-controlled analgesia. At the same time, naloxone in small doses was found to have negligible effect on overall patient pain control.