Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Case Reports Observational Study
Catheter Access Port (Computed Tomography) Myelography in Intrathecal Drug Delivery Troubleshooting: A Case Series of 70 Procedures.
Intrathecal drug delivery is used for the treatment of intractable spasticity, dystonia, and pain. When the symptomatology fails to respond to therapy, the cause could be failure of the medication infusion. The purpose of this study is to assess pump catheter access port (CAP)-myelography and CAP-CT-myelography as advanced imaging methods in treatment failure. ⋯ CAP-CT myelography with 2D/3D reconstructions is an essential step in the diagnostic algorithm for cases involving ITDD failure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A Comparison of Refill Procedures and Patient Outcomes Following Ultrasound-Guided and Template-Guided Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems With Recessed Ports.
Intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) are refilled using templates and palpation. The 2017 Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference recommends ultrasound only when reservoir ports are difficult to identify. The purpose of this study was to compare procedural outcomes and patient's preference for refill method of IDDS. ⋯ Patients preferred ultrasound even though it lengthened the duration of refills compared to template-guided procedures. Fewer patients experienced procedural pain with ultrasound compared with template-guided refills. No safety issues were observed in either group.
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Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pumps are an effective treatment for spasticity; however infection rates have been reported in 3-26% of patients in the literature. The multidisciplinary ITB service has been established at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH, Queen Square, London for over 20 years. Our study was designed to clarify the rate of infection in our ITB patient cohort and secondly, to formulate and implement best practice guidelines and to determine prospectively, whether they effectively reduced infection rates. ⋯ This study suggests that a straightforward change in clinical practice may lower infection rates in patients undergoing ITB therapy.
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Intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) are an important method of pain control for patients with refractory oncologic pain. Local anesthetics such as bupivacaine have been infused either alone or with opioids. While effective, bupivacaine can cause adverse effects such as numbness, weakness, and urinary retention. This study looks to establish a safe and efficacious fixed bupivacaine dosing algorithm in intrathecal pumps for cancer patients. ⋯ For oncological patients, our data and experience support the initiation of intrathecal bupivacaine at the following doses: 5 mg/day for catheter tips in the cervical spine, 8 mg/day for catheter tips at T1-4, and 10 mg/day for catheter tips at T5-8. Given the higher likelihood of adverse effects in catheters at T9-12 and the lumbar spine, we start at 8 mg/day with close follow-up of the patient. Initiating these doses allow our patients to safely reach adequate analgesia faster, with a shorter hospitalization and quicker return to anti-cancer therapy.