A report of three cancer patients on opioid analgesia receiving spinal anesthesia: abrupt pain elimination without respiratory depression

Abstract

Abstract Background Complete removal of pain with regional anesthesia has been reported to cause fatal respiratory depression in opioid-dependent patients, which leads us to choose general anesthesia. We hereby report three cases of chronically opioid-treated cancer patients operated under spinal anesthesia without respiratory event. Case presentation Case 1: a 32-year-old female treated with high-dose morphine for her cancer pain was planned for cesarean section. Case 2: a 65-year-old female on moderate dose of oxycodone was planned for surgery of her femoral bone fracture. Case 3: a 65-year-old male on low-dose oxycodone was planned for intramedullary nailing for metastatic femoral bone tumor. In all three cases, spinal anesthesia was chosen. Continuous respiratory monitoring revealed no apnea or bradypnea. Conclusion Spinal anesthesia was safely performed without respiratory depression in chronic opioid users for cancer pain.

Keywords

• Chronic opioid
• Respiratory depression
• Tolerance