II. Mechanism
- Intrathecal drug delivery for maximal pain relief with less adverse effects
- Catheter inserted into intrathecal space cerebrospinal fluid
- Catheter tunneled around Abdomen and into the lower abdominal wall
- Insertion by interventional pain management specialists or Neurosurgeons
- Pump refills
- Pump is battery operated and is typically implanted into Abdomen
- Pump port is accessed via needle through the skin
III. Preparations
- FDA approved agents to be used in Intrathecal Pumps
- Off-Label medication uses within Intrathecal Pumps
- Hydromorphone
- Bupivicaine
- Fentanyl
- Clonidine
IV. Complications
-
Clonidine Pump malfunction with Drug Withdrawal
- Clonide withdrawal results in hypertensive emergencies
-
Baclofen Pump Malfunction with Drug Withdrawal
- See Baclofen Pump
-
Overdose
- Less common
- May occur on attempted pump port refill, if the port site is missed
- Infection
- May occur immediately after implantation, however otherwise infections are uncommon
- Catheter Granuloma
- May result in local mass effect with pressure on spinal cord and risk of injury
V. Precautions
-
Lumbar Puncture
- Interventionist may access side port of pump to withdraw CSF for analysis
- Do not perform blindly without identifying the course of the catheter
- XRay catheter region to determine involved levels
- Perform Lumbar Puncture under fluoroscopy if performing Lumbar Puncture in region of catheter
- MRI with implanted pump
- Consult specific pump guide or device consultant
- Precautions vary by pump
- Some pumps require medication to be withdrawn from reservoir before MRI due to risk of rapid infusion
-
Anticoagulants and Thrombolytics
- Risk of intrathecal Hematoma in perioperative period (insertion or removal)
- Anticoagulants and Thrombolytics should be avoided in the first 48 hours of catheter procedure
- Pump interrogation (e.g. flow rate settings)
- May be performed by device consultants as well as some hospital pharmacists
- Pump maintenance
- Pump should be refilled every 6-12 weeks (or based on amount used and type of agent)
- Pump should be replaced every 3-5 years
VI. Management: Emergent Emptying of Pump Reservoir
- Consult pump manufacturer and provider managing pump
- Indications
- Medication Overdose due to pump malfunction
- Complications
- Infection
- Bleeding (esp. in Coagulopathy)
- Failed device access
- Damage to device or nearby structures
- Preparation
- Needle 22 gauge
- Three-way stopcock (or extension tubing with clamp
- Syringe 20 cc
- Antiseptic solution for Skin Preparation
- Ultrasound (with probe cover) for needle guidance
- Technique
- Skin Preparation with antiseptic solution and drape
- Connect needle to stopcock and syringe
- Keep the system closed until ready to aspirate
- Do not expose the system to open air (risk of triggering increased infusion rate)
- Direct needle toward fill port at center of the device
- Silicone port septum will be felt on needle entry
- Advance until it reaches the bottom of the fill port
- Withdraw fill port medication contents
- Open stopcock
- Aspirate medication until no bubbles or medication asprated in 5 seconds with negative pressure
- Close stopcock
- Withdraw the needle
- Record volume of medication withdrawn
- References
- Warrington (2017) Crit Dec Emerg Med 31(9): 19
VII. References
- Mishler and Lovecchio (2017) Crit Dec Emerg Med 31(11): 15-20
- Lin, Coralic and Poree in Herbert (2015) EM:Rap 15(11):4-5
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Related Studies
| Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
| English | Intrathecal pump insertion |
| Spanish | Inserción de bomba de infusión intratecal |
| Dutch | intrathecale pomp plaatsing |
| Italian | Inserzione di pompa intratecale |
| German | Anlage einer Pumpe im Intrathekalraum |
| French | Insertion de pompe intrathécale |
| Portuguese | Inserção intratecal por bomba |
| Czech | Intratekální zavedení pumpy |
| Japanese | ｽﾞｲｸｳﾅｲﾎﾟﾝﾌﾟｿｳﾆｭｳ, 髄腔内ポンプ挿入 |
| Hungarian | Intrathecalis pumpa behelyezés |
Ontology: Infusion Pumps, Analgesic, Implantable, Intrathecal (C3504070)
| Definition (UMD) | Analgesic infusion pumps intended for implantation that are designed for use in the administration of analgesics into the spinal fluid space (i.e., intrathecal). These pumps are frequently battery-powered devices. They are comprised of a syringe-driven mechanism that is inserted between the skin and the muscle of the lower abdomen; an infusion rate controller; and an internal reservoir containing the analgesic solution. The analgesic solution is delivered from the pump to a subcutaneous tube and then to a catheter with a needle at the distal end that is typically inserted in the intrathecal space. Intrathecal implantable pumps that deliver the analgesic without the use of batteries are also available; they are based on a two-chamber pump with an inner chamber containing the analgesic drug and an outer chamber containing a propellant. The temperature of the patient warms the propellant which in turn exerts a constant pressure on accordion-like bellows that divide both chambers. The pump must be also able to deliver a continuous or intermittent flow and/or deliver bolus doses of analgesics when necessary. Intrathecal analgesic infusion pumps are used mainly by patients with otherwise intractable chronic pain. These pumps may be used also to administer drugs (e.g., baclofen) for refractory spasticity. |
| Concepts | Medical Device (T074) |
| English | Analgesic Infusion Pumps, Implantable, Intrathecal, Infusion Pumps, Analgesic, Implantable, Intrathecal, Intrathecal Analgesic Infusion Pumps |
