Paper I
2016 February (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Explain why morphine is contraindicated in patients with head injury.

Q81 marksShort Answers

Answer

Morphine is contraindicated in head injury because it depresses the respiratory centre, causing CO2 retention (hypercapnia), which produces cerebral vasodilatation and further raises intracranial pressure — worsening cerebral oedema. It also causes pupillary constriction (miosis), which masks the pupillary changes (a critical sign of rising intracranial pressure/herniation) that are essential for neurological monitoring in head injury patients, and its sedative effect can obscure assessment of the level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale).

Other Years Asked


Revise MBBS
Preview