[Morphologic and histologic changes caused by continuous peridural analgesia in a cancer patient]

The morphological and histological alterations were studied that appeared in the peridural space of a patient who was anesthetized for 114 days with a peridural catheter (Perifix-Catheter, Braun) because of intensive violent pain caused by an incurable carcinoma. No macroscopical or histological indication of inflammation could be observed in any of the peridural space and spinal canal. The only alterations detected were nonspecific foreign-body reactions, such as an increase in foreign-body gigant cells and single connective tissue adhesions. Peridural opiate analgesia combined with long-term local anesthesia (0.25% Bupivacain) provided the patient with a long period free of pain.