[The importance of pain control with morphine for terminally ill patient care for at home].

From April 1987 to June 1994, 81 patients of terminally ill had been care at home. In these home care, 38 patients received pain control with morphine. In 29 patients, pain control had been started before home care but in 9 patients pain control had been started under home care. Routes of morphine administration were oral in 24 cases and rectal in 14 cases. In cases of oral routes, finally 2 cases converted to rectal routes and 2 cases converted to subcutaneous routes. Duration of treatment were from 2 days to 741 days (average 72 days). Dosage of morphine were 7.5 mg to 480 mg (average 116 mg). Two patients lived but 24 patients died at home and 12 patients died at hospital. We concluded that palliative care especially pain control with morphine was very important care for patients of terminally ill who wanted care at home and ultimately die at home. We had to make ourself master of method pain control with morphine.