The use of patient-controlled boluses of local anaesthetic via a psoas sheath catheter in the management of malignant pain

Patients who develop malignant infiltration of the psoas muscle and the lumbar plexus often experience a severe complex pain syndrome characterised by deep somatic pain, neuropathic pain and psoas spasm. Conventional analgesic regimes may not relieve these symptoms adequately. We describe the use of patient-controlled boluses of local anaesthetic via a psoas sheath catheter in this scenario. The recent availability of portable infusion pumps with the capability to deliver large volume boluses with long lockout times made this intervention possible and allowed the patient to be discharged home with effective relief of pain. (C) 1999 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.