Patient-controlled analgesia in the pediatric population: morphine versus hydromorphone

Figures & data

Figure 1 Inclusion/exclusion flowchart.

Abbreviations: Svc, service; OSA, obstructive sleep apnea.

Table 1 Demographic data of the two patient groups*

	Morphine	Hydromorphone	Morphine to hydromorphone	Hydromorphone to morphine
Number	266	222	23	3
Age (years)	10±2	11±3	11±2	10±3
Weight (kg)	40.0±17.4	45.6±20.5	40.3±14.0	52.0±30.7
Sex
Male	144 (54.1%)	94 (42.3%)	11 (47.8%)	2 (67.7%)
Female	122 (45.9%)	128 (57.7%)	12 (52.2%)	1 (33.3%)

Note:

* There were no statistically significant differences among the groups.

Table 2 PCA information for the two groups

	Morphine	Hydromorphone
Number	289	225
Only opioid used	266 (92.0%)	222 (98.7%)
Switched to another opioid	23 (8.0%)	3 (1.3%), P=0.0008
Number of days on PCA before switching	2.9±3.1	2.0±1.0

Abbreviation: PCA, patient-controlled analgesia.

Table 3 Adverse effect profile of two groups*

	Morphine	Hydromorphone	P-value
Number requiring a switch to another opioid	23	3	<0.0008
Adverse effects unavailable	6	0	Not applicable
Pruritus	11 (64.7%)	1 (33.3%)	0.0152
Inadequate pain control	8 (47.1%)	0	0.0105
Nausea	2 (11.8%)	2 (66.7%)	NS
Cognitive disturbances	2 (11.8%)	0	NS

Notes:

* Percentages in Table 3 were calculated after subtracting cases where adverse effects were not available. Additionally, some patients developed more than one adverse effect.

Abbreviation: NS, not significant.