A dose-response study of nalbuphine for post- thoracotomy epidural analgesia

The analgesic efficacy and sideeffects of epidural nalbuphine (0.075– 0.3 mg · kg−1) were compared with epidural morphine 0.1 mg · kg−1 in a randomised doubleblind study in postthoracotomy patients. The drugs were administered via a lumbar epidural catheter one hour before the end of surgery. Efficacy was assessed using visual analogue pain scores and supplementary iv fentanyl requirements; respiratory function was studied with an inductive plethysmograph and arterial blood gas analysis; and plasma nalbuphine levels were measured.