Indications for Intrathecal Pump Therapy

Abstract

Intrathecal drug delivery systems offer an approach for medication administration that is appropriate for patients in whom oral or parenteral therapy is inadequate to control pain complaints or that suffer from deleterious side effects associated with medication administration. Due to rapidly escalating pain or a need for frequent titration of analgesic agents that is often associated with the natural progression of cancer, intrathecal therapy is ideally suited to this population. Intrathecal medications are easily titrated, highly potent, and associated with fewer systemic side effects than parenteral or oral medications. By targeting receptors present in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, intrathecal drug delivery mechanisms allow for improved pain control with far smaller doses than those required with systemic administration. Multiple systems and medications are available and suitable for intrathecal drug delivery. Intrathecal delivery of medication should be considered in the management of pain associated with cancer.