Comparison of Intrathecal Hydromorphone and Intrathecal Morphine for Postoperative Analgesia After Cesarean Delivery
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Pain, Cesarean Section
Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Comparison of Intrathecal Hydromorphone and Intrathecal Morphine for Postoperative Analgesia After 
Cesarean Delivery 
PI: Dr. Yaakov Beilin 
NCT02096003 
Document Date: July 20, 2012 

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Brief Summary of Research (250-400 words): 
The use of intrathecal opioids for analgesia in the setting of cesarean section has 
become standard obstetric anesthesia practice. Currently, two opioids are commonly 
used. These opioids are fentanyl and morphine (Duramorph). Intrathecal opioids are an 
excellent source of analgesia and act to reduce the stress response to surgery. 
Currently, most obstetric anesthesiologists use intrathecal morphine for analgesia after 
cesarean delivery. Morphine provides excellent analgesia for cesarean section. 
However, use of this medication is associated with side effects such as pruritus and 
nausea and vomiting.  
Recently, there was a shortage of preservative free morphine. As a result, alternative 
forms of analgesia had to be utilized for multiple operations, including cesarean 
delivery. Multiple obstetric anesthesia groups began to use intrathecal hydromorphone 
for cesarean delivery when morphine was unavailable. Unfortunately, there was very 
little data regarding its use for cesarean section at that time. As groups began to use 
hydromorphone, retrospective data became available that demonstrated its safety and 
efficacy for use during cesarean section.  
In order to fully elucidate the analgesic and side effect properties of hydromorphone for 
cesarean delivery, a prospective randomized, double blind study comparing morphine 
and hydromorphone is necessary. We need to understand whether hydromorphone is 
as effective as morphine for analgesia after cesarean section, and whether it is 
associated with fewer or more side effects. The results of the study will allow providers 
to make educated decisions to better care for their patient. 
 

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1) Objectives 
The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a difference in analgesic 
effect of intrathecal morphine and hydromorphone for cesarean section.  
 
2) Background 
Opioids are often administered intrathecally for cesarean section for post-operative 
analgesia. Opioids act in the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horn of the spinal 
cord. When activated, these receptors inhibit the release of excitatory 
neurotransmitters within the spinal cord. The most important factor to consider 
when administering intrathecal opioids is the lipid solubility. 
 
Lipophilic opioids, such as fentanyl, enter the spinal cord rapidly, quickly diffuse 
across the dura and into the epidural fat and are rapidly cleared into the systemic 
circulation. Due to the rapid distribution, lipophilic opioids have limited spread 
within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As a result of these features, lipophilic opioids 
result in a rapid onset and short duration of action. Fentanyl, for example, has an 
onset of action of 5-10 minutes and duration of 2-4 hours.  
 
Hydrophilic drugs, such as morphine, travel slowly within the spinal cord, and have 
slower clearance. Thus, hydrophilic opioids have a slower onset, longer duration of 
action, and a higher degree of cephalad spread. Morphine is the prototypical mu-
opioid receptor agonist and is the most hydrophilic of the frequently used 
intrathecal opioids. Intrathecal morphine has a relatively slow onset (30-60 min) and 
lasts approximately 24 hours. Morphine has a small intrathecal volume of 
distribution and slower clearance than lipophilic opioids. Morphine metabolism 
results in active metabolites. Morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and Morphine-3-
glucuronide (M3G) are the primary active metabolites. M6G is thought to be 
responsible for analgesic properties of morphine, but also contributes to the side 
effect of respiratory depression. The intrathecal potency of M6G is approximately 
10-45 times greater than that of morphine. (1) 
 
Hydromorphone, another hydrophilic opioid, is a semi-synthetic ketone of 
morphine. Hydromorphone is slightly more lipophilic than morphine and therefore 
has a faster onset of action and shorter duration of action. Hydromorphone is 
approximately five times more potent than morphine when administered 
intrathecally. Furthermore, hydromorphone appears to have a more favorable side 

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effect, with possibly less pruritus and nausea. This is perhaps due to lack of active 
metabolites or because of its smaller volume of distribution. 
Currently, most obstetric anesthesiologists use intrathecal morphine for analgesia 
after cesarean delivery. Based on the pharmacokinetics of morphine and 
hydromorphone, it would appear that the use of intrathecal hydromorphone for 
cesarean delivery may result in a similar analgesic profile with fewer side effects. A 
retrospective study by Rauch (2013) sought to compare the analgesic and side effect 
profile of intrathecal hydromorphone with local anesthetic vs. intrathecal fentanyl 
with local anesthetic vs. local anesthetic alone for cesarean section. Pain scores 
were gathered retrospectively from self-report in response to a nurse’s questions. In 
this study, hydromorphone significantly reduced pain scores in the 0-4 hour range 
and the 24 hour range as compared to local anesthetic alone or in conjunction with 
fentanyl. This is the only study in the literature that investigated that role of  
intrathecal hydromorphone and showed that it provides effective analgesia for 
cesarean section. There was also a study by Halpern et al. (1996) that compared 
epidural hydromorphone with epidural morphine for cesarean section. This study 
found no difference in analgesic effect between the two groups. The Halpern study 
did identify an earlier peak of pruritus in the hydromorphone group and a later peak 
in the morphine group. There are, however, no studies that compared intrathecal 
hydromorphone with intrathecal morphine for cesarean delivery. In order to further 
characterize the analgesic and side effect profile of intrathecal hydromorphone and 
determine its future role in obstetric anesthesia, a prospective randomized double 
blind trial is necessary.  
 
 
3) Setting of the Human Research 
This study will take place at the Mt Sinai Hospital Labor and Delivery Floor. Patients 
eligible for the trial will be approached by a member of the investigating team after 
admission to the labor and delivery unit for primary elective cesarean section. These 
patients will be informed about the trial and consent will be obtained. If the patient 
does not wish to take place in the trial, she will receive standard anesthetic care. 
 
4) Resources Available to Conduct the Human Research 
The study will involve 50 patients scheduled for primary elective cesarean section. 
The Mt Sinai labor and delivery unit is a very busy unit that performs between 4 and 
6 elective cases daily. The obstetricians and nurses on this unit are very cooperative 

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and eager to engage in studies to improve patient care and outcome. In addition, 
there is a large anesthesia staff during the day that can assist in patient recruitment 
and data collection. 
 
 
5) Study Design 
This will be a prospective, randomized, double blind study. Patients presenting for 
primary elective cesarean section will be randomized into two groups. Consent for 
the study will be obtained in the pre-op area before the patient receives any  
medication.  Group 1 will be the standard morphine group. In this group, the 
patient’s will receive a spinal anesthetic consisting of 1.5cc of 0.75% bupivacaine 
plus 250mcg of preservative free morphine. Group 2 will be the experimental 
hydromorphone group. In this group, the patient’s will receive a spinal anesthetic 
consisting of 1.5cc of 0.75% bupivacaine plus 50 mcg hydromorphone. This dose was 
chosen because it is equipotent to the standard dose of morphine used for cesarean 
deliveries, which is 250mcg. A second anesthesiologist will draw up the study 
medication and give the syringe to the investigator so that the investigator is 
unaware of what is contained in the syringe. The person drawing up the medication 
does not participate in patient evaluation.  
 
Each patient will receive 500cc of Lactated Ringers within the 15 minutes prior to 
administration of spinal anesthetic. Each patient will also receive 4mg ondansetron 
immediately prior to spinal anesthetic.  
 
After performing the spinal anesthetic, each patient will be positioned on the 
operating room table using standard left uterine displacement. Vitals will be 
recorded every minute for the first 10 minutes and then every 3 minutes for the 
remainder of the case. A decrease in BP > 30% of baseline along with a heart rate > 
60 or if the patient has symptoms of hypotension (nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or 
lightheadedness) will be treated with phenylephrine 100 mcg IV boluses and 
repeated every 1 minute until BP returns to normal. If the HR is below 60, ephedrine 
will be used in 10mg increments as stated above. Additionally, a bolus of 100cc IV 
fluid will be given during each hypotensive episode. After the spinal is administered 
all patients will receive maintenance IVF at a rate of 150cc/hr. 
 
The presence of nausea and vomiting, and pruritus will also be recorded in 5 minute 
intervals.  

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The dermatomal level of anesthesia will be assessed every 2 minutes until the 
anesthetic level reaches thoracic level 4 (t-4).  We will test for adequate level of 
anesthesia with a needle testing for the sensation of a pin prick. . 
 
 
Patient satisfaction will be recorded at the end of the procedure. Patients will be 
asked to rate their experience on a 1-5 scale as follows. 1-completely dissatisfied, 2-
partially dissatisfied, 3-neutral, 4-partially satisfied, 5-completely satisfied. 
 
All patients will have the same post op pain orders as is standard on the labor floor. 
These include ketorolac 30mg IV every 6 hours. In addition to this, every patient in 
this study will be given an IV fentanyl PCA (patient controlled analgesia) pump. The 
settings of the pump will be basal rate of 0, bolus rate of 15mcg, and a lock out of 
every 8 minutes. This allows a maximum hourly dose of 105mcg. The PCA pumps 
record how often the patient requested additional analgesia and how much total 
fentanyl the patient received per hour. The pumps will be queried at the end of 24 
hours to record total fentanyl dose can record the total medication administered per 
hour over a 24 hour period.  
 
The patients will then be followed hourly for the first 4 hours by the investigating 
team. Pain scores will be obtained using the verbal response scale (VRS). The VRS 
scale is measured using a score of 0 as no pain and 10 as the worst pain. The 
presence of nausea and pruritus will also be assessed at these time points. The 
patients will then be visited again at 6hrs, 12 hrs, and 24 hrs. At these time points, 
the patients will be asked for pain scores, presence of nausea, vomiting and pruritus. 
 
At 24 hrs, the patients will be evaluated for overall satisfaction with pain control and 
their anesthetic experience.   
 
 
a) Recruitment Methods 
Every patient that presents for primary elective cesarean section will be a potential 
candidate for this study. After admission to the labor and delivery floor, the patient 
will be approached by a member of the investigating team. These patients will be 
informed about the trial and consent will be obtained.  If the patient does not wish 
to take place in the trial, she will receive standard anesthetic care. 
 

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b) Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria 
Inclusion Criteria for this study: 
Elective primary cesarean section; Females age 18-40 
 
Exclusion Criteria: 
Emergency cesarean section; Anesthetic other than spinal; History of chronic pain or 
pre-op opioid use; Allergy to morphine or hydromorphone; BMI>40 
 
c) Number of Subjects 
Since there are no prior studies comparing Duramorph to hydromorphone for 
postoperative analgesia we cannot perform a power analysis to determine the 
number of patients required.  We propose to enroll 20 patients, 10 per group, in a 
blinded fashion and collect our data as described above. We will then perform an 
interim analysis of the data to see how much fentanyl is being used in the 
hydromorphone and morphine group. At that point we will determine the total 
number of patients required and inform the IRB and update the protocol 
accordingly. We will not change the protocol in any way after analyzing the data.  
 
 
d) Study Timelines 
Each individual subject will be followed for 24 hours after cesarean section. 
We anticipate that we will enroll all subjects within 1year. 
We estimate that this study will be completed 6 months after enrollment of all 
subjects.  
 
 
e) Study Endpoints 
Each patient will receive a fentanyl pca (patient controlled analgesia) pump in the 
post anesthesia care unit (pacu). The primary outcome is total dose of fentanyl pca 
used in 24 hours. This will be a marker for supplemental analgesia needed after the 
cesarean delivery. 
Secondary outcomes include: 
1. Time to initial use of pca. We want to understand when the hydromorphone 
and morphine group will require the first supplemental analgesic.  

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2. Time frame of most frequent use of pca. When does each group use the pca 
most frequently? Between 1-4 hrs, 4-6 hrs, 6-12 hrs, 12-24 hrs? This will help us 
understand the duration of analgesic effect between hydromorphone and 
morphine. 
3. Pain scores in both groups between the above time frames. 
4.  Patient satisfaction scores in the above time frames. 
5. Assessment of nausea and vomiting and pruritus in the above time frames. This 
will help us understand the onset and incidence of these side effects among the 
two groups. 
 
 
f) Procedures Involved in the Human Research 
The study design was described above. Every patient will receive a spinal anesthetic, 
as is standard of care for primary elective cesarean section. All standard anesthetic 
safety protocols and all standard nursing protocols will be followed. The only 
difference is the use of the study drug. 
 
Every patient in this study will be given a pca for post-operative analgesia. The 
nurses in the post anesthesia care unit and post-partum unit are familiar with pca 
use and are capable of assessing the patients for sedation and respiratory 
depression. All cesarean section patients already have to be monitored for 
respiratory depression in the first 24 hours. The nurses are therefore equipped and 
qualified to monitor the study patients. The study patients will get the same 
monitoring as every cesarean section patient in the post-partum unit. 
 
Data will be collected as described above. Only data up to 24 hours will be obtained.  
 
 
g) Specimen Banking 
This is not applicable to the current study. 
 
h) Data Management and Confidentiality 

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Data will be collected on paper that will indicate the patient’s medical record and 
her study number assignment, and her initials. There will be no indication on these 
sheets of the patient’s name.  The data collection sheet is attached. The data on the 
sheets will be transferred to an Excel computerized spreadsheet without her initials.  
The excel data base is in a computer with a password.  Also, the excel program is 
protected by a password.  We will have a separate binder that will have the patients 
name along with her medical record # should we need to recheck records for any 
reason.  The binder with the data sheet will be kept in the anesthesia research office 
(room KCC 840) that is kept locked at all times.  The binder with the identifying 
information will be kept in the obstetric anesthesia office KP 2-58, also a locked 
office.  Only the PI will have access to these records. 
 
 
i) Provisions to Monitor the Data to Ensure the Safety of subjects 
Dr. Jeffrey Silverstein will be responsible for the data safety and monitoring of this 
study. Dr. Silverstein is an independent anesthesiologist, who is not involved with 
this study. Dr. Silverstein has several years of experience serving on the Mount Sinai 
IRB. Using hydromorphone in the spinal anesthetic carries the same risks as using 
morphine, namely respiratory depression. As an anesthesiologist, Dr. Silverstein is 
qualified to assess the problems associated with this medication and with the 
complications of spinal anesthesia. 
 
Indicate whether this person is the PI, a Team Member, or is Independent: 
Independent Monitor 
Last Name: Silverstein 
First Name: Jeffrey 
Academic Title: MD, Professor Anesthesiology 
Department: Anesthesiology 
Mailing Address: 1 Gustave L.Levy Pl 
KCC 8th fl, NY NY 10029 
Phone: 212-824-8200 
Fax:  
E-mail: jeff.silverstein@mssm.edu 
 

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Data will be reviewed at least monthly for completeness and accuracy by review of 
the database with review of the original datasheets if indicated. If our study was 
suspended on a temporary or permanent basis, the PI would report this to the IRB. 
In addition, any complications from the spinal anesthetic or the study drug would be 
reported to the Department of Anesthesiology PI committee and to the IRB. 
 
j) Withdrawal of Subjects 
Patients may be withdrawn from the study if adequate spinal block is not achieved, 
or if the patient develops post dural puncture headache. 
 
 
6) Risks to Subjects 
The risks to the patient undergoing spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery are the 
same regardless of opioid used. The risks include post dural puncture headache, 
bleeding, bruising, infection at the site of insertion, and nerve damage, inadequate 
spinal or high spinal anesthetic. These are the risks of spinal anesthesia. The risks of 
morphine use include delayed respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, and 
pruritus. These are the same risks of hydromorphone. There are no additional risks 
to the patient from the study intervention.  
 
 
7) Provisions for Research Related Injury 
As explained above, the risks to the patient are the same regardless of study drug. 
The risks come from the spinal procedure itself. Every patient is followed post 
operatively and assessed for complications and treated appropriately. The study 
patients will be treated the same in this regard 
 
8) Potential Benefits to Subjects 
The study drug, hydromorphone, may provide an improved analgesic profile to the 
patient. It may also decrease the side effects of nausea and pruritus.  
 
 

Protocol Title: 
 
Principal 
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9) Provisions to Protect the Privacy Interests of Subjects 
Only patient initials will be used on the data collection sheet and this data will be 
stored on a password protected Mount Sinai computer. Only the PI will have access 
to the patient’s identifiable information. Patients will be reassured that all their 
information will remain confidential. 
 
 
10) 
Economic Impact on Subjects 
There will be no additional cost to the patient for taking place in the study. The 
patient will be charged the standard anesthesia fee for cesarean section. There will 
be no additional fee for PCA use as this is part of the study and would not have been 
otherwise used in the care of the patient. 
 
11) 
Payment to Subjects 
There will be no payment to subjects for participation in the study. 
 
12) 
Consent Process 
Women will be enrolled in the study on the Labor and Delivery Unit of The Mount 
Sinai Hospital at the time of presentation for their primary elective cesarean section.  
Consent will be obtained in the pre-operative area. The surgical consent is also 
obtained at this time. If the patient is able to give consent for cesarean section in the 
pre-op area, then she can consent for this study as well. 
The population of interest is pregnant women. Minors, cognitively impaired adults, 
and non-English speaking subjects will not be approached for inclusion in the study.  
 
 
13) 
Process to Document Consent in Writing 
The standard PPHS consent template will be used. The consent form is attached. 
 
 
14) 
Vulnerable Populations 

Protocol Title: 
 
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Date Revised: 
 
Study Number: 
 
 
11 
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Indicate specifically whether you will include or exclude each of the following 
populations: 
Include 
Exclude 
Vulnerable Population Type 
 
x 
Adults unable to consent 
 
x 
Individuals who are not yet adults (e.g. infants, children, teenagers) 
 
x 
Wards of the State (e.g. foster children) 
x 
 
Pregnant women 
 
x 
Prisoners 
 
 
 
15) 
Multi-Site Human Research (Coordinating Center) 
This is a single site study. 
 
16) 
Community-Based Participatory Research 
N/A 
 
17) 
Sharing of Results with Subjects 
Results will not be shared with the patients or their obstetricians. 
 

Protocol Title: 
 
Principal 
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Primary Contact 
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Date Revised: 
 
Study Number: 
 
 
12 
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18) 
IRB Review History 
N/A 
 
19) 
Control of Drugs, Biologics, or Devices 
Note: The IDS has its own forms that must be completed and a review process 
that must be followed before the IDS representative will sign off on Appendix B 
for submission to the PPHS. 
 
The Mount Sinai Labor and Delivery Unit utilizes a Pyxis machine, which stores and 
dispenses controlled substances. The pyxis is accessed by passcode and fingerprint. 
Currently the morphine used for cesarean section is stored in the pyxis and is accessed 
by identifying the patient and withdrawing the drug. The Pyxis records who took out the 
medication and the time of withdrawal. The hydromorphone will be stored in this 
secure pyxis machine as well.  
 
 
References: 
1. Mashour, G.A, Lydic R. Neuroscientific Foundations of Anesthesiology. New York: 
Oxford University Press, 2011.  
2. Rauch, E. “Intrathecal Hydromorphone for Postoperative Analgesia After 
Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Study”. AANA Journal. 2012 Aug;80(4 
Suppl):S25-32 
3. Halpern, S.H et al. “Epidural Morphine vs. Hydromorphone in post-cesarean 
section patients”. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. 1996; 43(6):595-598.CAN J 
ANAESTH 1996/ 43:6/pp595-8 CAN J ANAESTH 1996/ 43:6/pp595-8 
 
 
 

Statistical plan  
 
Categorical variables were tested via chi-square test, while continuous variables were tested via t-test, 
paired t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, or Mann-Whitney U test where applicable.