Patient selection and trialing techniques utilizing low-dose intrathecal morphine for chronic nonmalignant pain: a...

The administration of opioid analgesics via the intrathecal route is becoming more commonplace for a variety of chronic nonmalignant pathologic pain states. Despite this growing trend, there is very little information available to guide practitioners with regard to patient selection as well as intrathecal drug dosing paradigms. The authors describe the use of a protocol for patient selection, including pretrial preparation, as well as detailed very low-dose chronic intrathecal morphine dosing regimens to treat patients with refractory chronic nonmalignant pain.