An Evidence Based Educational Module on the Efficacy of Single-shot Intrathecal Morphine in Minimizing Postoperative Opioid Requirement in Abdominal Surgery Patients: A Quality Improvement Project

Authors

Maelen Bernasor RN
Fernando Alfonso DNP,CRNA,APRN, Florida International University
Kizzana Brown DNP, CRNA, APRN

Date of this Version

12-5-2022

Document Type

DNP Project

Abstract

Acute postoperative pain is a complex, physiological reaction to tissue injury. It remains a challenge for anesthesia providers and health care practitioners to create a balanced multimodal approach to treat it. Ineffective management such as undertreatment and overtreatment of postoperative pain leads to poor patient outcomes. Emerging as a favorable option in clinical practice is the use of Intrathecal Morphine (ITM) before induction of general anesthesia. It is a simpler and quicker neuraxial technique with a lower rate of failure. ¹

Morphine was the first opioid approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for spinal administration, and it is also the most common epidural opioid used.¹ ITM is now deemed by many as the gold-standard single-dose neuraxial opioid and is extensively used in the perioperative setting due to improved analgesia, greater duration of action, and dose-sparing effects compared with its administration via the systemic route.^1,2

Recommended Citation

Bernasor, Maelen RN; Alfonso, Fernando DNP,CRNA,APRN; and Brown, Kizzana DNP, CRNA, APRN, "An Evidence Based Educational Module on the Efficacy of Single-shot Intrathecal Morphine in Minimizing Postoperative Opioid Requirement in Abdominal Surgery Patients: A Quality Improvement Project" (2022). Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects. 145.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cnhs-studentprojects/145