Abstract
Fifty-six patients with chronic pain due to advanced cancer were treated with an sc infusion of morphone (34 patients) or hydromorphone (22 patients) using a portable disposable infusor. The infusion was maintained for 26 ± 14 days. Twenty-five patients (45%) were discharged to the home for a mean period of 18 days (range, 2-138). The mean daily increase in dose was 2.6% ± 1.4% of the initial dose. The sc site needed to be changed every 8 days (range, 2-31). Local toxicity consisted of infection in two patients (3%), chemical irritation in three (5%), and bleeding in one (2%). After 48 hours of treatment, 54 of 56 patients (96%) preferred the sc infusion to their previous parenteral treatment. We conclude that this is a safe and simple method for the administration of narcotics to inpatients and outpatients.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 635-637 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Cancer Treatment Reports |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| State | Published - 1987 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research