engleski

ADVANTAGES OF SUBCUTANEOUS INFUSION OF MORPHINE FOR PAIN CONTROL IN PALLIATIVE CANCER PATIENTS

Background and aims: In palliative patients, pain is often the leading symptom and pain control is one of the most important tasks of quality palliative care. As the disease progresses, the pain intensifies and becomes increasingly difficult to control, patients find it increasingly difficult to take oral therapy. The application of subcutaneous infusion of morphine via an elastomeric pump is an important method of pain control at home. For the patients with cancer pain, at the end of life is important pain control and possibility to be at home. Methods: The study comprises 15 home-based palliative patients from University hospital, whom were prescribed morphine pump to treat chronic cancer pain. Pain intensity was assessed with VAS, and ESAS questionnaire was used to assess severity for nine common symptoms of advanced cancer. Data were collected in two points in time, before the morphine pump was implanted and 2nd measurement after three weeks of treatment. Results: Results have shown significant decrees in pain intensity and significant reduction in symptoms severity. After three weeks, patients reported improved sleep, better appetite, and more mobility. Psychologically, they reported less symptoms of depression and anxiety. Conclusions: Better pain control with a morphine pump may also have significant implications for other symptoms in the palliative patient ; sleep, depression, appetite, which improves overall quality of life of palliative patients. Morphine pump allows palliative patients to be at home, to keep their social and family connectedness at the end of their life.

pain, cancer, morphine

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