nicomorphine and Neoplasms

Continuous Reaction Time (CRT) was measured in cancer patients receiving peripherally acting analgesics either alone (n = 16) or in combination with opioids (n = 16). Comparison was performed matching the patients from each group for age and performance status. Statistically significant prolongations of CRT and higher sedation scores were seen in the opioid group, while performance status did not have any influence on CRT.

Topics: Acetaminophen; Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Female; Humans; Hydromorphone; Male; Meperidine; Middle Aged; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Neoplasms; Nicotinic Acids; Pain

Ten cancer patients treated with stable doses of epidural opioids were tested for postural stability. The postural stability was measured using a quantitative Romberg's test, performed on a computerized force-plate system. Sway tendencies in the sagittal and the transverse directions were recorded. The postural stability of the patients was compared with values obtained from healthy controls. Comparing the cancer patients with the controls, postural stability in eight out of ten patients was intact. The study suggests that long-term epidural opioid treatment has little influence on the patient's ability to stand safely.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Analgesia, Epidural; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Neoplasms; Nicotinic Acids; Pain; Posture; Time Factors