[Severe pain relief with intrathecal infusion. The patient controls, treatment can be provided at home]

Intrathecal administration of an opioid such as morphine in combination with a local anaesthetic such as bupivacaine is an effective treatment for severe cancer pain. The treatment, which can often be made available in the patient's home, provides relief from pain without unwanted sedation, when high-dose oral or parenteral morphine no longer has any effect. The patient controls the treatment, and can achieve a balance between pain relief and side-effects. The article outlines the routines established at the pain unit at Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg.