[Treatment of severe cancer pain via spinal catheters]

Twenty-seven patients with pain from non-curable cancer, who did not respond to systemic pain treatment with opioids and coanalgesics without the occurrence of unacceptable side effects, were treated with intrathecal infusions. Two patients were treated satisfactorily with morphine alone, while the remainder were given a mixture of morphine and bupivacaine. Complete or good pain relief was reported by 23 patients and some relief by three patients. The poorest results were obtained in the patients who died within the first week of intrathecal treatment. Post-spinal headache occurred in five patients and temporary paraesthesia or motor deficits in five. No serious complications were recorded. The treatment of severe cancer pain by intrathecal infusion of morphine and bupivacaine seems to be a promising method. As the adjustment of doses takes some days, and as the main complication, post-spinal headache, occurs early in the course, the method is most suitable for use in patients expected to survive for at least a couple of weeks.