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Intrathecal therapy: rationale, technique, clinical results
Author(s) -
Madrid José L.,
Fatela Lorenza V.,
Lobato Ramiro D.,
Gozalo Adolfo
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1987.tb02671.x
Subject(s) - medicine , morphine , intrathecal , ambulatory , anesthesia , port (circuit theory) , surgery , electrical engineering , engineering
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 Tc 99m , closed spontaneoulsy.