MULTICENTER TRIAL OF A PROGRAMMABLE IMPLANTABLE INSULIN PUMP IN TYPE-I DIABETES

Programmable implantable pumps permitting variable-rate intraperitonea l insulin infusion are currently investigated as a potential alternati ve to subcutaneous insulin therapy. An improved version of the Siemens implantable system has been evaluated in 6 European centres on 31 typ e I diabetic patients treated for 10-30 months. Contrary to other pump models there were no proven pump malfunctions and only one no-flow re duction unrelated to catheter obstruction. The latter resulted in 12 s urgical catheter replacements. There were 2.0 incidents of programmer malfunctions per patient-year easily managed by reconfiguration or rep lacement. Insulin remained clear and active in the pump reservoir and glycaemic control remained in the near-normoglycaemic range. Thus, ins ulin therapy with the Siemens implantable pump is feasible and effecti ve up to 2.5 years.