[Intrathecal analgesia. Apropos of 50 cases]

Fifty patients with intractable pain, mainly of neoplastic origin, were treated by morphine through unidose drug delivery system. Criteria of selection of the patients and technical procedures are reported. Most common side effects are nausea and dysuria but can be effectively prevented. The most severe complications are leakage of cerebro spinal fluid with or without meningitis. The success rate at 20 days is 80% as well in pelvic pain as in subdiaphragmatic extra cephalic pain.