title: Administration of intraspinal analgesia in the home care setting.
abstract: Intraspinal analgesia can provide relief to patients suffering from intractable pain. Nurses following patients receiving intraspinal analgesia need to be familiar with care of the long-term intraspinal catheter, side effects that occur with spinal analgesia, interventions with acute tolerance, and use of drug combinations in the intraspinal infusion. Eighteen patients were observed for 1 year, using the epidural portal system. This method of intraspinal delivery permitted long-term epidural access without complications of system breakdown or catheter migration. With intraspinal infusions, the patient remained alert and could die at home with dignity, free from pain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: St Marie
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008910:Minnesota; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid