Continuous intraventricular morphine- or peptide-infusion for intractable cancer pain.

The continuous intraventricular administration of small daily doses of morphine by means of an implantable pump is an effective method of obtaining considerable pain reduction for patients suffering from otherwise untractable carcinoma pain. We consider this method of treatment to be an excellent alternative to the epidural and intrathecal application. Particularly in cases with obstruction of the spinal canal or in cases suffering from untractable pain in the face, neck or upper thoracic area. During the period of treatment, none of the patients involved in the study developed tolerance to morphine or specific opiate side effects. The programmable pump allows precise dosage which is adjusted to the requirements of the individual patient. The high cost of a pump is a justifyable investment in patients in good general condition with a life expectancy longer than 3 months. In most cases the patient may be cared for at home, making further hospitalization unnecessary.