[Long-term pain therapy in malignancies using epidural administration of opiates]

The authors explain basic anatomical and pharmacological principles of epidural opiate analgesia. As to clinical aspects, the authors mention briefly the technique of epidural analgesia. They summarize, based on their own experience and data in the literature, the period of insertion of an epidural catheter, opiate dosage in morphine equivalents, the need of adjuvant treatment and complications. They mention briefly various techniques which can be used in epidural opiate analgesia with an outline on perspectives of this method.