Epidural morphine delivered by a percutaneous epidural catheter for outpatient treatment of cancer pain

Twenty-three outpatients with cancer pain refractory to other methods of pain control were treated with epidural morphine (EM) delivered through a chronically placed percutaneous lumbar epidural catheter. Patients and their families were taught to administer EM at home. Mean EM doses ranged from 18 to 31 mg/day. Mean catheter lifespan was 6.3 weeks. There were no catheter-related infections or cases of respiratory depression. After 2500 patient treatment days, we have found this method to be a safe and effective method of cancer pain management in outpatients.