Home pain management. Continuous infusion of narcotics

Home pain management is a complex and challenging therapy for the home infusion nurse. A thorough knowledge of pain assessment, therapeutic approaches, and pharmacology of narcotics; management of side effects; and a recognition of individual variations in response are necessary for successful pain control. Continuous infusions of narcotics can be safely administered in the home setting, thus leading to an improved quality of life for patients with intractable pain. A retrospective chart review of 20 patients cared for by Deaconess Home Health Care Corporation in Boston, Massachusetts, illustrates the wide variation in individual narcotic requirements necessary to achieve pain control. Three case studies are also included to provide further comparison.