In 75 patients epidural opiates were applied for relief of chronic cancer pain. In order to avoid local infection during long-term therapy part of the catheter was placed subcutaneously. Different opiates were used separately or in combination with local anaesthetics to define the degree and duration of pain relief after epidural opiate application. Haemodynamic and respiratory parameters, changes in lower extremity blood supply and other side-effects were recorded during epidural pain therapy. Epidural opiate application cause a long-lasting reduction of pain, which may become restricted during long-term or repeated use, especially after a period of systemic opiate therapy. Side-effects, for example slight respiratory depression in the first hour after injection, indicate an initial phase of resorption beeing followed by a long-lasting reduction of pain without attendant symptoms. Keeping in mind certain precautions epidural opiate therapy is superior to systemic opiate application.