Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36281899›Full record

Observational studyCancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center

Effects of an Intrathecal Drug Delivery System Connected to a Subcutaneous Port on Pain, Mood and Quality of Life in End Stage Cancer Patients: An Observational Study.

Mariateresa Giglio, Angela Preziosa, Roberta Mele, Nicola Brienza, Salvatore Grasso, Filomena Puntillo

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Patient-controlled subcutaneous analgesia with hydromorphone in cancer pain management.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Mariateresa GiglioAnaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Unit, Policlinico Hospital, Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4901-0045
Angela PreziosaAnaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Unit, Policlinico Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Roberta MeleAnaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Unit, Policlinico Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Nicola BrienzaDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Salvatore GrassoDepartment of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Filomena PuntilloAnaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Unit, Policlinico Hospital, Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7274-6467
University of Bari Aldo Moro · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn cancer patients with limited life expectancy, an implant of an intrathecal (IT) drug delivery system connected to a subcutaneous port (IDDS-SP) has been proposed as a successful strategy, but conflicting results are reported on quality of life (QoL). The aim of this prospective observational study is to report the effects on pain, mood and QoL of an IT combination therapy delivered by an IDDS-SP in malignant refractory pain.

methodsAdult patients in which IT therapy was recommended were recruited. An IT therapy with morphine and levobupivacaine was started: VASPI score, depression and anxiety (evaluated by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System -ESAS-), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the 5-level EuroQol 5D version (EQ-5D-5L) and the requirements of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) medications were registered, with adverse events rate and the satisfaction of patients scored as Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC).

resultsFifty patients, (16 F/34 M) were enrolled (age 69 ± 12). All had advanced cancer with metastasis. The median daily VASPI score was 75, the median depression score was 6, and the median anxiety score was 4, median PSQI was 16. At 28 days, a significant reduction in VASPI score was registered as well as in depression and anxiety item. Also, PSQI decreased significantly. The EQ-5D-5 L showed a significant improvement in all components at 14 and 28 days. Patient Global Impression of Change scores showed high level of satisfaction. A low incidence of adverse events and a reduction in BTCP episodes were also registered.

conclusionIntrathecal combination therapy delivered by an IDDS-SP could ensure adequate control of cancer related symptoms, such as pain, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances. These effects, with low rate of AEs and reduced BTcP episodes, could explain the improvement in QoL and the overall high levels of patients' satisfaction.

Indexed as

Cancer PainIntractable PainNeoplasmsAffectAgedAged, 80 and overDrug Delivery SystemsHumansLevobupivacaineMiddle AgedMorphineQuality of LifeLevobupivacaineMorphineanxietycancer paindepressionintrathecal therapymorphinequality of lifesleep

Identifiers

PMID36281899
PMCPMC9607974
OpenAlexW4307970486

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.