[Continuous injection therapy of morphine solution for terminally-ill patients at home]

We surveyed 21 terminally-ill patients with cancer pain who received continuous injection therapy of morphine at home in the three years from 1995 to 1997. The period of home therapy was 179.3 +/- 257.5 (mean +/- SD) days. The period of morphine injection was 39.2 +/- 29.1 days. Morphine solution was injected intravenously via a catheter inserted in a central vein in all patients. The instrument used most frequently for injection was the seven-day type disposable balloon pump (n = 17, 81.0%). The maximum dosage of morphine in the period of home therapy was 57.3 +/- 30.6 mg per day. Nine patients (42.9%) seldom used supplemental analgesics, while 11 patients (52.4%) used them sometimes. Nine patients had some trouble with continuous injection therapy of morphine. The following were problems: accidents with the injection instruments (insufficient injection volume, delay of drug supply, etc.) and of the intravenous catheters (accidental removal of catheter, occlusion of catheter, etc.). Eleven patients (52.4%) died at home, and 10 patients (47.6%) were hospitalized again. Continuous morphine injection therapy is an effective strategy for cancer pain management at home.