The control of severe cancer pain by continuous intrathecal infusion and patient controlled intrathecal analgesia with morphine, bupivacaine and clonidine

The management of severe cancer pain may be problematic in spite of recent advances in pain management. A small percentage of patients with severe intractable pain and/or intractable side effects may require more aggressive interventional pain management strategies including the administration of medications continuously by the intrathecal route. A variety of medications, including morphine, bupivacaine, and clonidine, may be used intrathecally for the control of cancer pain. Optimal use of these medications requires individual titration to the patient's needs. We describe a case of severe cancer pain where these medications were used successfully by continuous intrathecal infusion and patient controlled intrathecal analgesia. (C) 1998 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.