A case of successful management of lung cancer pain using ultrahigh-dose fentanyl patch

Abstract

A 55-year old woman with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer was admitted to hospital for the management of severe chest pain, which measured 7 out of 10 on a numerical rating scale (NRS). Despite palliative radiation and the application of multiple epidural blocks, she continued to experience severe cancer pain. We gradually increased the dose of transdermal fentanyl patches from 500 μg/hr to 3,650 μg/hr, for 3 months without any significant side effects. Concomitantly, adjuvant therapy with antidepressants and anticonvulsants were added, decreasing the patient's pain to NRS 3-4 down from 7. After being transferred to a hospice clinic, her chest pain was well-controlled below NRS 4 by means of strong opioid medications, including the highest dose of transdermal fentanyl 4,050 μg/hr for more than 16 months. Copyright©2010. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. All rights reserved.