Intrathecal cold saline for the relief of intractable pain.

Cold saline was injected intrathecally for the relief of intractable pain in terminal cancer patients. Worthwhile relief was obtained in five out of seven patients. The procedure should be considered in the management of such cases when neurosurgical procedures have failed or are contraindicated and when patients have become addicted to, or their pain is unrelieved by, narcotics. There is still uncertainty as to whether cold or hypertonicity is the operative factor; we are more in favour of the latter view.