Gynecologic oncology
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Gynecologic oncology · Jan 1989
Percutaneous epidural catheterization for intractable pain in terminal cancer patients.
We examined the effects of long-term percutaneous epidural catheterization for pain relief in nine terminally ill gynecologic cancer patients. All patients were free of side-effects such as respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, or pruritus. Analgesia was excellent in six patients. ⋯ Catheter dislodgement occurred in three patients. Although percutaneous epidural catheters were well tolerated in a few patients for an extended period of time, the frequency of catheter problems demonstrate that other methods such as catheter tunneling or implantable systems should be considered for long-term epidural administration of narcotics. This method appears to be most effective in patients suffering from pain due to nerve root involvement.