Continuous Nasogastric Morphine Infusion

Abstract

Morphine sulfate is the narcotic analgesic most commonly used for pain treatment in terminally ill patients. This case report demonstrates a new method of morphine administration. A 56-year-old terminally ill cancer patient with severe pain from metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung required continuous nasogastric feeding and around-the-clock narcotic analgesics. The patient was safely and effectively converted from a continuous intravenous morphine infusion to continuous nasogastric morphine-enteral feedings. This method of administration may benefit patients receiving continuous enteral tube feedings who either require high-dose morphine therapy or are unable to use the oral administration route.