Successful treatment of refractory cancer pain with morphine and ropivacaine: A case report

RATIONALE: Pain is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by cancer patients. Cancer pain is a complex phenomenon with physical, psychological, social, and cognitive domains. Although opioids remain a cornerstone of cancer pain management, they are not effective in all patients. This case highlights the successful treatment of an opioid-refractory severe cancer pain crisis with ropivacaine infusion and subsequent rapid tapering of opioid dose. PATIENT CONCERNS: This report illustrates the use of ropivacaine for cancer pain. A 62-year-old man with metastatic lung cancer was admitted to the hospital with uncontrolled chest-back and abdominal pain. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed as refractory cancer pain. INTERVENTIONS: Successful treatment with morphine and ropivacaine was performed to obtain longer opioid refractory severe cancer pain. OUTCOMES: At 1, 3, and 6 months postoperative review, 70-75% relief of pain was achieved with overall activity was improved. The analgesic effect was stable during the 6-month follow-up period. No complications were reported during the follow-up period. LESSONS: Our report demonstrates that ropivacaine is successful treatment for cancer pain in this case. It will supply us a novel navigation in cancer pain treatments. Meanwhile, this finding still needs additional study for confirmation.