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Continuous epidural morphine treatment for intractable pain in terminal cancer patients
Gideon Findler1, David Olshwang, Moshe Hadani
1Department of Neurosurgery, Hadassah University Medical Center, Ein - Kerem, JerusalemIsrael Department of Anaesthesiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Ein - Kerem, JerusalemIsrael.
Abstract:
In patients with intractable cancer pain who failed to respond to conservative and neurosurgical procedures for pain relief, repeated injections of epidural morphine were found to be beneficial. A small dose of morphine (2-4 mg per injection) relieved pain for 6-24 h. A permanent subcutaneous epidural catheter led to successful ambulatory treatment without complications. The implantation of the epidural catheter is a minor surgical procedure, done under local anesthesia and is considered safe even in terminal cancer patients.