TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Morphine on Breathing Pattern
T2 - A Possible Factor in Atelectasis
AU - Egbert, L. D.
AU - Bendixen, H. H.
PY - 1964/5/11
Y1 - 1964/5/11
N2 - Atelectasis can be prevented by intermittent deep breathing. Patients with severe abdominal pain take occasional deep breaths, but these differ from those of normal volunteers. When morphine is given, deep breathing ceases. It appears that morphine, in doses which do not grossly depress ventilation and exchange of gases, may depress the reflex urge to maintain normal pulmonary mechanics. This may explain the increased incidence of postoperative atelectasis following large doses of narcotics. Since severe postoperative pain must be alleviated, measures to reduce or prevent pulmonary complications should be considered. These include vigorous encouragement to do breathing exercises, use of forced deep inspiration with bag and mask, and regional anesthesia to block pain locally.
AB - Atelectasis can be prevented by intermittent deep breathing. Patients with severe abdominal pain take occasional deep breaths, but these differ from those of normal volunteers. When morphine is given, deep breathing ceases. It appears that morphine, in doses which do not grossly depress ventilation and exchange of gases, may depress the reflex urge to maintain normal pulmonary mechanics. This may explain the increased incidence of postoperative atelectasis following large doses of narcotics. Since severe postoperative pain must be alleviated, measures to reduce or prevent pulmonary complications should be considered. These include vigorous encouragement to do breathing exercises, use of forced deep inspiration with bag and mask, and regional anesthesia to block pain locally.
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U2 - 10.1001/jama.1964.03060320007001
DO - 10.1001/jama.1964.03060320007001
M3 - Article
C2 - 14159063
AN - SCOPUS:0012659220
SN - 0098-7484
VL - 188
SP - 485
EP - 488
JO - JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
JF - JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
IS - 6
ER -