Managing intractable pain with an intrathecal catheter and injection port:Technique and guidelines

The objective of our study was to describe an effective technique for the m anagement of chronic intractable pain in patients with intermediate life ex pectancy or as a long-term screening device prior to implantable pump thera py. In the study, an InDura(TM) intraspinal catheter is connected to a Bard Port(TM), which is accessed transdermally. We describe our surgical techniq ue, recommended dosage calculations, cost comparison to an implantable infu sion pump, and our experience with 13 cases. In our series of 13 patients, there was one seroma and one dural leak. There were no infections, and all were functioning well in the 12 cancer patients until their deaths. One cas e was converted to an implantable pump. There were no malfunctions or infec tions of the intrathecal infusion system in the 12 cancer patients. This in trathecal drug infusion system should be considered in the treatment armame ntarium for chronic intractable pain and cancer pain.