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Local administration of morphine for cancer pain management

Ljilja Štefančić ; Department of Anesthesiology and ICU, University Hospital for Tumors, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Stela Marić ; Department of Anesthesiology and ICU, University Hospital for Tumors, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Srećko Ljubičić ; Department of Anesthesiology and ICU, Dubrovnik General Hospital, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Alma Zvizdić ; Department of Anesthesiology and ICU, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Opioid receptors are found in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues, i.e. on sensory nerve endings. The specificity of peripheral opioid receptors is that their stimulation produces analgesic effects under inflammatory conditions alone. Studies have shown that opioids administered locally to inflammatory tissue provide good analgesia without any systemic side effects otherwise typical for these drugs (respiratory depression, drop in blood pressure, etc.). Data concerning the experience on the intra-articular administration of morphine in clinical settings, and its subcutaneous administration in experimental models are reported and confirmed the local analgesic effect (1, 2, 6, 7).
Based on this knowledge, we decided on the local – topical administration of morphine in two patients on radiotherapy for subclavicular metastases of an inoperable planocellular lung cancer, admitted to our Hospital for unbearable pain in the shoulder and neck region with intense redness, swelling and induration of the painful region and immobility of the arm.
The subcutaneous administration of morphine achieved a satisfactory analgesic effect with no systemic side effects.

Keywords

pathological pain; peripheral opioid receptors; inflammation; morphine; topical administration; analgesia

Hrčak ID:

278700

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/278700

Publication date:

21.10.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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