[Continuous subcutaneous application of analgesics in a patient suffering from a head and neck tumor.]

In the pain treatment of patients with incurable head and neck tumors it may be difficult to provide adequate oral drug therapy in the advanced stages. In these cases continuous subcutaneous application of morphine by means of external infusors is an alternative. An example of the method of continuous subcutaneous application of analgesics in pain therapy is shown in a patient suffering from a chondrosarcoma of the maxilla. Because oral pharmacotherapy provided insufficient analgesia in the final stage of the tumor disease, it was replaced by continuous subcutaneous application of morphine hydrochloride. A flexible cannula was inserted into the upper arm and connected to an external portable infusor device. Because of growing tumor infiltration, we progressively increased the morphine dosage. Nevertheless, continous subcutaneous application of droperidol, dexamethasone and clonidine was also needed to achieve much better analgesia. The technical simplicity of this safe and effective treatment make it suitable for outpatient care in tumor clinics.