title: Continuous epidural morphine treatment for intractable pain in terminal cancer patients.
abstract: In patients with intractable cancer pain who failed to respond to conservative and neurosurgical procedures for pain relief, repeated injections of epidural morphine were found to be beneficial. A small dose of morphine (2-4 mg per injection) relieved pain for 6-24 h. A permanent subcutaneous epidural catheter led to successful ambulatory treatment without complications. The implantation of the epidural catheter is a minor surgical procedure, done under local anesthesia and is considered safe even in terminal cancer patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine