ANALGESIA FOLLOWING EXTRADURAL AND I.M. PETHIDINE IN POST-CAESAREAN SECTION PATIENTS

The onset, quality and duration of analgesia following extradural pethidine 50 mg and i.m. pethidine 100 mg was assessed in 30 post-operative patients who had undergone Cae-sarean section under extradural anaesthesia. Saline and pethidine were given in a randomized, double-blind fashion using simultaneous extradural and i.m. injections. Extradural pethidine provided superior analgesia, of quicker onset but similar duration, and both treatments were associated with a low incidence of side effects.