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.