title: Intrathecal therapy: rationale, technique, clinical results.
abstract: 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. It is easy to locate and facilitates ambulatory treatment. The injections were carried out by members of the patient's family after they had been taught how to do it. 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.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002946:Cisterna Magna; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007260:Infusion Pumps / Q000009:adverse effects; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D009020:Morphine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid