Complications occurring on the administration of morphine hydrochloride into the epidural space in patients after radical cancer operations on the gastrointestinal tract

: 169 patients operated on for gastrointestinal tumors have been examined. In 119 patients postoperative analgesia was performed by epidural administration of different morphine doses (2, 5 and 8 mg). The time of analgesia onset, its duration and complications were registered. Patients on intramuscular promedol injections served as the control. The study performed makes it possible to conclude that epidural administration of 5 mg morphine diluted in 5-10 ml of physiologic saline ensures in 92.4% of patients effective and durable analgesia with practically no side effects.