Comparison of codeine phosphate and morphine sulphate in infants undergoing cleft palate repair

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the quality of analgesia provided by morphine in comparison to codeine.

Design: The study is a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial of analgesic effect employing validated pain scores.

Patients: Infants having primary cleft palate repair with informed parental consent to enter the study.

Interventions: Infants received one of two analgesics intraoperatively for immediate postoperative pain relief. Morphine was given by intravenous injection and codeine by the intramuscular route.

Main outcome measure: Pain scores in the immediate postoperative period for 2 hours following surgery; this outcome measure was decided prior to data collection.

Results: The pain score and other outcome measures were all blinded. Measurements are all evident from the nature of the results.

Conclusions: There was no clinically significant difference observed in the analgesic effect of either drug on the two groups studied.