Practical aspects of epidural and intrathecal narcotic analgesia in the intensive care setting.

The administration of epidural and intrathecal narcotics is a technique of providing postoperative analgesia that is gaining popularity in many operating rooms, labor suites, and intensive care units. The epidural and intrathecal methods, first introduced a century ago, have been implemented as additional techniques for the administration of narcotic analgesics. Patients who have received epidural or intrathecal narcotics are frequently admitted to the intensive care unit for postoperative care. Because of their continuous proximity to the patient and their monitoring skills, critical care nurses are able to evaluate the analgesic effect and intervene in the event of a complication.