INTRATHECAL MORPHINE PUMP AS A TREATMENT OPTION IN CHRONIC PAIN OF NONMALIGNANT ORIGIN

BACKGROUND Implantable pumps for the delivery of intrathecal morphine have become a common option for administering opiate medication for th e management of pain in patients with terminal cancer. Options for tre ating chronic pain of non-malignant origin are more controversial. Thi s study describes responses to intrathecal morphine administration for managing chronic pain in patients without an underlying malignancy. M ETHODS Eleven patients between the ages of 29 and 81 years, nine with failed back syndrome (FBS) and two with neuropathic pain (NP) from oth er causes, were chosen from 15 consecutive individuals referred to neu rosurgery clinic. The presenting levels of pain and a functional-econo mic outcome level were determined for each patient. Patients were admi tted to the hospital for therapeutic trials and were assessed for the appropriateness of their analgesic response and for adverse responses to the medication. A morphine pump was implanted in five males and six females who were followed for up to 3 years. RESULTS A good to excell ent analgesic response was seen in 8 (73%) patients (6 FBS; 2 NP). In the remaining three patients (27%), the analgesic response was judged poor (3 EBS). In patients with FBS, the total effective response was 6 7%. Two patients experienced bladder dysfunction requiring pump remova l. Other adverse effects of pump placement were rare. CONCLUSIONS The morphine pump was found to be a viable alternative in the management o f failed back syndrome. Its use in long-term therapy, however, is not without limitations and should be a last choice option. (C) 1998 by El sevier Science Inc.