[Epidural morphine analgesia (PMA). III. Cancer pain (author's transl)]

The effect of PMA in pain therapy was investigated over a period of one year on 52 patients suffering from terminal cancer. These patients, 22 being outpatients, received a total number of 85 peridural catheters. 75 of these catheters were evaluated according to morphine dosage and effect. The onset of PMA resulted in a drastic reduction in the need for high dose systemically applied analgesics. PMA was also successfully applied in cases with rapidly spreading metastases. Our catheters have remained in place up to 170 days. Side effects were rarely observed. Tachyphylaxis did not develop and almost all patients were satisfied with the therapy. Due to special care of the catheter we observed only 7 cases of infected puncture sites. Our clinical studies have proven that peridural morphine analgesia can be successfully applied as pain therapy in patients suffering from terminal cancer.