Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum
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From a survey of the recent literature on chronic intraspinal morphine administration for cancer pain concerning 412 cases, the present authors observe that: 1. data regarding follow-up on pain relief and complications are lacking; 2. continuous administration by closed systems shows more efficacy in long-term pain relief; 3. tolerance, although not reported by all authors, is present and becomes remarkable in prolonged administration; 4. serious side-effects are less frequent with the epidural administration technique. These data are confirmed by the present authors' clinical experience of 22 patients treated with epidural morphine administration and 53 patients treated with intrathecal morphine. The widespread use of these methods is limited not only by technical complications but also by the existence of certain types of pain which do not respond to morphine and which may develop, as part of the evolution of the neoplastic disease, even during treatment with intraspinal morphine.
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The clinical evaluation of continuous administration of epidural morphine was undertaken using an infusion pump (Act-A-Pump 1000). Eleven patients who had undergone abdominal surgical procedures were treated with this therapeutic modality for postoperative pain control, and two cancer patients for chronic pain relief. The results were satisfactory and the advantages over repeated epidural injections are discussed.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Suppl · Jan 1987
Intraventricular morphine for intractable cancer pain: rationale, methods, clinical results.
The experience with the administration of intraventricular morphine for the control of malignant pain in 197 patients is analyzed. Small doses of morphine injected via a ventricular reservoir provided satisfactory control of otherwise intractable pain in terminal cancer-patients. ⋯ Chronic intraventricular therapy can be safely performed on an outpatient basis by injecting the opiate once or twice a day. The method may be improved by using refillable continuous-infusion devices and new drugs, able to retain the analgesic effects of morphine while eliminating the unwanted ones.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Suppl · Jan 1987
Review Historical ArticleIntraspinal analgesia: an historical overview.
The application of opioids in the proximity of the spinal cord is a recent addition to the forms of treatment available for pain relief. During the last 20 years we have learned more about the intimate mechanisms of the action of opiates then we had in the preceding 5 millennia. Opium, in fact, has been used for medical purposes from prehistoric times. On the basis of the newly acquired knowledge, we are now applying opioids in more effective ways and providing more patients with long overdue relief of their pain.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand Suppl · Jan 1987
Intrathecal therapy: rationale, technique, clinical results.
In 35 patients a subcutaneously implanted injection port/reservoir was used to provide intrathecal morphine to relieve pain due to cancer. The reservoir offers an alternative to rather expensive devices. It can be used for repeated injections or for infusion. ⋯ Initially, doses of 0.25-0.5 mg of morphine resulted in pain relief for 14 to 24 hours. After 5 weeks of treatment morphine requirements increased to 0.75-2 mg. Side-effects were minimal, and three delayed CSF fistula, two of them confirmed by isotope tracking with Tc99m, closed spontaneously.