Abstract
We describe our experience with nine patients with head and neck pain of malignant origin who were treated with continuous low-dose intrathecal morphine via a lumbar catheter and implantable subcutaneous drug delivery pump. All patients had failed prior attempts at oral narcotic pain control due to either poor pain control or intolerable side effects. Using a visual analogue scale where the most severe pain is rated as 10 and no pain is rated as 0, the mean visual analogue scale was reduced from 7.6/10 (range, 5 to 10/10) before implantation to 1.9/10, 2.0/10, and 0.5/10 at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after implantation, respectively. Complications were acceptable. We conclude that intrathecal administration of morphine is a safe and effective means of pain control. This method deserves serious consideration in patients with intractable pain secondary to head and neck malignancy. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1991;117:1277-1280)
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1277-1280 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Archives of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery |
Volume | 117 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology