heroin and Scoliosis

We have studied the effects of the epidural administration of diamorphine 0.1 mg/kg at the L3-4 interspace on somatosensory evoked potentials in the cervical epidural space before corrective surgery for idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. A further eight patients in whom anaesthesia was maintained with a propofol infusion acted as a control group. Epidural diamorphine had no effect on the latency or amplitude of the evoked potentials. We conclude that epidural diamorphine is a suitable technique to use in scoliosis surgery because of its lack of effect on neurophysiological variables, although the potential respiratory problems need investigation.

Topics: Adult; Anesthesia, Epidural; Epidural Space; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; Heroin; Humans; Middle Aged; Scoliosis; Tibial Nerve