Mercadante, S., Intravaia, G., Villari, P., Ferrera, P., Riina, S., & Mangione, S. (2008). Intravenous morphine for breakthrough (episodic-) pain in an acute palliative care unit: A confirmatory study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 35, 307–13.
To perform a prospective cohort study to confirm the safety of intravenous morphine (IV-M) used in doses proportional to the basal opioid regimen to manage breakthrough pain; to record nurse compliance to data-recording regimen regarding treatment with IV-M
In the course of 116 admissions during one year, 99 patients received IV-M for breakthrough pain.
Italy
Prospective cohort study
IV-M given at doses proportional to basal dose provided prompt analgesia and was effective in most cases.