Use of intrathecal and epidural morphine for pain relief in patients with malignant diseases: a preliminary report.

The results of a preliminary study involving the treatment of various malignant pain disorders by intrathecal (I.T.) or epidural (E) morphine sulfate (M.S.) injections in 18 patients are reported. Fourteen (78%) patients obtained satisfactory analgesic effects and 4 (22%) failed. The overall duration of pain relief was modest and ranged from 10 to 72 hours; the intrathecal route provided a slightly longer duration (median: 48 hours; range: 15-72 hours) of analgesia than that of the epidural route (median: 20 hours; range: 10-72 hours). Minor and transient complications occurred in 10 (55%) patients.