Implantable infusion devices

Implantable infusion devices such as a morphine pump provide intrathecal drug delivery of opioid medication into the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. The medication works by attaching itself to certain receptors within the central nervous system and blocking the transmittance of pain signals. Patients who typically are candidates for this procedure have suffered chronic pain and have not been respondent to other extensive conservative measures such as anesthetic blocks and epidural steroid injections. Patients are also assessed from a psychological perspective for depression and may involve psychometric testing. Furthermore, the prospective candidate must undergo an intrathecal trial of morphine. This is an injection of morphine within the intrathecal space in which the potential pain relief is assessed, and if determined to be significant, the patient may be a candidate for permanent implantation of an intrathecal drug delivery system which consists of an intraspinal catheter and infusion pump. The intrathecal trial of morphine takes 30 minutes to perform and the permanent implantation is a surgical procedure that can take 60 to 90 minutes. Your physician will determine whether or not a patient is a candidate for this procedure.

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