Intrathecal drug delivery is a pain management therapy that delivers medication directly to the intrathecal space (the fluid-filled area surrounding the spinal cord). A round pump (approximately 3” x 1”) is surgically placed under the abdominal skin to deliver medication directly into the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord. The medication is then delivered through a thin, flexible, surgically-placed tube called a catheter.

Candidates

To receive the pump, candidates must undergo a thorough clinical evaluation. If the patient is found to be a surgical candidate, a trial consisting of an external intrathecal catheter delivering an adjusted dose of narcotic is conducted. If the patient finds significant improvement from the continuous narcotic infusion, implantation of a permanent pump is scheduled. This programmable pump will deliver an adjustable dose of narcotic directly to the nerves within the spine.

Benefits

The spinal cord is like a highway for pain signals traveling to the
brain, where pain sensation is experienced by the body. Because the pain medication is delivered directly to the “site of action” (the area surrounding the spinal cord) instead of circulating throughout the body, intrathecal drug delivery offers significant pain control using a small fraction of the dose that oral medication requires.

In studies, this drug delivery method has been shown to increase pain relief and comfort for people with severe pain. It may also cause fewer side effects than oral medications. Clinical studies show that for people who did not experience enough pain relief with high doses of oral medication, most achieved significant pain control with intrathecal drug delivery and were able to improve their activities of daily living.

For more detailed information on the intrathecal drug delivery system, download the Medtronic, Inc. Intrathecal Drug Therapy brochure (pdf).