一種新型硬腦膜外麻醉方法不需要導管或者靜脈輸液，使得手術后患者能夠在48小時內緩解疼痛，沒有任何不方便或者維持給藥。

這種藥物療法叫做DepoDur（硫酸嗎啡延遲釋放脂質體注射），單次硬膜外麻醉給藥，使用DepoFoam技術允許止痛劑隨著時間逐步釋放到硬膜外間隙。這就減少了對外置導管和泵的需求，那是其它形式大手術后止痛通常采取的方法。DepoDur既不需要留置導管用于持續釋放止痛劑，也無需要患者依賴靜脈通路。

DepoDur被用于大手術后的疼痛控制，包括臀部手術和膝蓋置換術、剖腹產以及重大的腹部外科手術。該藥物療法已經獲得了美國食品藥品管理局的許可，在一項臨床試驗中876例接受重大外科手術患者術后轉歸明顯改善。給予DepoDur的患者疼痛強度指數下降，減少了對急救藥物的需求。在美國和加拿大DepoDur是由Endo制藥公司推向市場的。

Duke大學醫學中心麻醉科助理臨床教授Gavin Martin醫生說：“使用DepoDur我們有效控制患者疼痛，較少使用笨重的設備，還能夠提高醫院的經驗。”

Post-Surgery Pain Reliever
 
A new epidural that does not require a catheter or intravenous (IV) drip enables post-surgery patients to get the relief they need for 48 hours without any inconvenience or maintenance.

Called DepoDur (morphine sulfate extended-release liposome injection), the medication is delivered as a single epidural injection, using DepoFoam technology that allows the painkiller to be released over time into the epidural space. This may reduce the need for external tubes and pumps that are common with other forms of pain management following major surgery. DepoDur does not require an indwelling catheter for continuous pain relief, nor does the patient need to be attached to an IV pole.

DepoDur is indicated for pain management following major surgery, including hip and knee replacement, cesarean section, and major abdominal surgery. The medication has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on clinical data showing significantly improved outcomes in 876 patients undergoing major surgical procedures. Patients given DepoDur  medication. Depodur is marketed in the United States and Canada by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Chadds Ford, PA, USA).

“With DepoDur, we can provide effective pain control for patients with fewer cumbersome devices, possibly improving the hospital experience,” stated Gavin Martin, M.D., assistant clinical professor of anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC, USA).