Temperature Dysregulation Following Intrathecal Morphine for Cesarean Delivery Patients—A Scoping Review
An erratum to this article was published (Acta Anaesthesiol Scand, Jan 2027 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
Current evidence does not demonstrate a consistent association between intrathecal morphine and hypothermia following cesarean delivery. However, interpretation is limited by substantial heterogeneity across studies. This scoping review highlights an important evidence gap in the literature and supports the need for well-designed studies to clarify whether intrathecal morphine contributes to clinically relevant hypothermia.
Study context
- Population
- Patients receiving intrathecal morphine during cesarean deliverystudies included, published between 1991 and 2025
- Participants
- 35 patients
- Comparison
- Temperature outcomes in patients receiving intrathecal morphine during cesarean delivery
- Outcome
- Incidence of hypothermia or hyperthermia
Methodological detailsPRISMA-ScR guideline, systematic literature search in Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Cinahl
- PRISMA-ScR guideline
- Systematic literature search in Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Cinahl
Recommendations
As reported in the abstract
Pooled incidence of hypothermia (20 studies, among 773 patients)
21%
Secondary outcomes
Severe hypothermia attributed to intrathecal morphine (case reports)
- Case reports describing severe hypothermia attributed to intrathecal morphine
- 12
Association between intrathecal morphine and hypothermia; dose response
- Explorative analysis did not show an association between intrathecal morphine and hypothermia, and no dose response was identified
Clinical outcomes
- Clinical outcomes infrequently reported; several hypothermic patients described as asymptomatic, suggesting hypothermia may be clinically under-recognized
Role of intrathecal morphine in included studies
- Studies evaluating intrathecal morphine as intervention
- Four
- Remaining studies: administered as standard care for all trial patients
Original publication
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