Open AccessProspective Association of Serum Opioid Levels and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Cancer Pain Treated With Intrathecal Opioid Therapy
Author(s) -
Shane E. Brogan,
Jill E. Sindt,
Carina Jackman,
Julia White,
Victoria Wilding,
Akiko Okifuji
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0000000000004276
Subject(s) - medicine , opioid , cancer pain , hydromorphone , interquartile range , morphine , oxycodone , brief pain inventory , prospective cohort study , anesthesia , cancer , constipation , intractable pain , gastroenterology , chronic pain , physical therapy , receptor
Opioids remain the mainstay of cancer pain management but are associated with systemic toxicity. In refractory cancer pain, intrathecal therapy (ITT) is associated with improved pain control, reduced systemic side effects, and improved survival. It has been assumed that ITT decreases systemic serum opioid levels and their associated toxicity, but there are limited data to support this assumption. This study hypothesizes that serum opioid levels decrease with ITT. Secondary objectives include comparative measures of pain, bowel function, and other cancer-related symptoms.