[Cancer pain therapy in children and adolescents using morphine]

Abstract

Systematic treatment in children suffering from cancer pain is a field of pediatric oncology that was neglected for a long time. Investigations have shown that pain therapy oriented to the special situation of the child's body is urgently necessary. In Germany, an unpublished study by Fengler (Berlin), who reviewed all pediatric cancer centers, revealed serious deficiencies in the therapy of pain in children. In our study, we attempted to develop a new concept of cancer pain management, with the emphasis on cooperation between pediatric oncologist and anesthesiological pain therapists. PATIENTS AND METHODS. A total of 36 children and adolescents suffering from malignant tumors and in whom pain therapy according to WHO stage III was necessary were treated. After being seen by a pediatric oncologist and an anesthetist (pain therapist) each patient received either slow release oral morphine (MST, 0.5-1 mg/kg per dose) two to three times a day or a continuous infusion of morphine (0.05 mg/kg per h). The amount of morphine administered was quickly raised until the young patients were free of pain. Drug actions (pain score) and side effects were registered continuously with a documentation form. The morphine was combined with dipyrone 5-15 mg/kg per dose five times a day. The intravenous dosage of oral dipyrone was 2-5 mg/kg per h. RESULTS. The average age of the patients treated was 12 years (1.5-19 years); 10 were inpatients, and 26 were outpatients. All patients were treated successfully. The doses of morphine required for pain relief varied substantially (1-25 mg/kg per day p.o. and 0.05 mg-1 mg/kg per h i.v.). We did not observe extreme sedation or respiratory depression. In our patients we did not observe opioid-induced nausea such as is frequently seen in adults. All children needed laxatives. In 2 children, intolerable itching was experienced after oral administration of slow-release morphine. In 20 patients cortisone was given as adjuvant therapy, in 5 patients with neuropathic pain, anticonvulsants e.g., carbamazepine. In 6 patients we administered benzodiazepines successfully for sedation and anxiolysis. CONCLUSIONS. Therapy of pain in children with advanced cancer requires interdisciplinary cooperation. In most children therapy of pain can be successfully administered with slow-release morphine in combination with dipyrone, so that the children can remain in their usual social environment.