RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Neuraxial administration of long-acting opioid is the "gold standard" for the management of postoperative pain following cesarean delivery. Respiratory depression, however, remains a concerning complication. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study of 4963 patients evaluated the frequency of respiratory depression after neuraxial morphine administration in a post-cesarean delivery population. The spinal dose of morphine varied from 100 to 450⯵g intrathecally, and from 3 to 5â¯mg epidurally. The primary outcome was the initiation of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) event for respiratory failure due to neuraxial opioid in the 24â¯h following morphine administration. Secondary outcomes studied included oxygen desaturation events (SpO2 <90%), initiation of oxygen therapy and naloxone administration. RESULTS: There were no respiratory RRT events within the study period (95% confidence interval [CI] 0 to 7 per 10â¯000). There were no desaturation events recorded and no patients received supplemental oxygen therapy or naloxone (95% CI 0 to 7 per 10â¯000). CONCLUSION: Clinically significant respiratory depression is rare among patients receiving neuraxial morphine for post-cesarean delivery analgesia.