Abstract
Introduction: Pain management through intrathecal devices with morphine is an option for the treatment of palliative care in cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality of life in a group of patients who use this treatment option.
Methods: The present observational study was developed in the Pain and Palliative Care Service of the Hospital of SOLCA - Guayaquil. Quality of life was measured with the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire at 0, 30 and 90 days in a group of patients with terminal cancer and oncological pain who were treated with intrathecal analgesia using a multiprogrammable device, using morphine. The study period was from January to December 2015, patients signed an informed consent. The quality of life is compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: Fifteen patients were included in the study, 10 women (66.7%), with an average age of 50 ± 15 years. The most frequent cancer localization was colo-rectal 5 cases (33%). The overall quality of life at day 0 was 27.6 ± 4 points, at day 30 it was 90.7 ± 10 points (P <0.001) and at day 90 it was 88.2 ± 10 points (P <0.001). At 90 days, the functional state decreased 57.5 points, the emotional state -60.5 points, Dyspnea -50.3 points, Pain -71 points, Insomnia -77.9 points, Fatigue -64 points, Appetite -53.7 points, Nausea -41.9 points, Constipation -56.8 points.
Conclusion: The intrathecal analgesia with morphine in 15 patients with terminal cancer, improves the quality of life from 27.6% to 88.2% in a period of 3 months and the quality of life is maintained up to 90 days.