Subarachnoid buprenorphine administered by implantable micropumps.

This report concerns 23 patients, the majority of whom are suffering from low back and chest pain caused by chest, urological or gynaecological cancer. These patients were treated with subarachnoid buprenorphine, administered in a single bolus or by slow infusion from micropumps, at a daily dose adapted to patients need (0.06-0.15 mg). The painful symptomatology was successfully controlled in all the cases treated, allowing the patients to live a virtually normal life. In no cases was respiratory depression or tolerance observed.