Pruritus--a side-effect of epidural fentanyl for postoperative analgesia.

The side-effect of pruritus was studied in 31 patients receiving epidural fentanyl 100 micrograms in 8 ml normal saline for postoperative analgesia. A control group of 30 patients received pethidine 1,5 mg/kg 4-6-hourly as required. Thirteen per cent of the patients who received epidural fentanyl experienced pruritus. However, this incidence was not considered unacceptable and the pruritus was mild and of short duration.