Where is the intrathecal space located

The healthcare provider removes the first catheter you had. He or she puts a new catheter under your skin. The provider then puts a pump about 1 inch under your skin on one side of your lower belly abdomen. The pump is a disk about 1 inch thick and 3 inches wide.

It contains medicine and has a battery that lasts for 5 to 7 years. The catheter is connected to the pump. The provider connects the pump to a small device outside your body. The provider uses this device to control the pump. The pump may be programmed by the healthcare provider. Or it may be set to a certain amount.

The type of medicine used in the pump will depend on your type of pain and other factors. The pump will need to be refilled with medicine when needed. This may happen every 1 to 3 months. Understanding an Intrathecal Pain Pump Implant An intrathecal pain pump implant is a way to relieve some kinds of long-term chronic pain or cancer pain. How to say it in-trah-THEE-kuhl. Side effects for intrathecal drug pumps are minimal, although they do exist.

As with all surgeries, complications may include infection and bleeding. The catheter could move or become blocked, or the pump could stop working rare. Accumulation of fluid cerebrospinal fluid leak can occur around the pump causing a clear watery discharge from your incisions or a headache. These usually disappear on their own, but may require a drain. Reasons for removal of the device include infection, failure to relieve pain, and patient misuse. Side effects from the drugs over- or underdose may include respiratory depression, twitching, muscle spasm, urinary retention, constipation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, depression, and edema.

Depending on how much medication the pump delivers, the battery will eventually need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years. You must schedule medication refills on a regular basis with the surgeon or a pain management specialist. At your refill appointment, the effectiveness of your treatment will be assessed and your pump will be adjusted accordingly.

The goal is to find the optimal amount of pain or spasticity control while having minimal side effects. You should tell your doctor if you experience unusual symptoms, drug overdose, or feel that your dosage is ineffective. You may need to take supplemental oral medicine if you have periods of stronger pain.

Just like a cardiac pacemaker, other devices such as cellular phones, pagers, microwaves, security doors, and anti theft sensors will not affect your pump. Be sure to carry your Implanted Device Identification card when flying, since the device is detected at airport security gates. This may indicate that the pump needs refilled, battery needs replaced, or other maintenance. Withdrawal symptoms from the medication you are receiving may cause you some discomfort or in extreme cases may require emergency treatment.

Inform family members and friends about what to do in an emergency; always carry your Emergency Information and Procedure cards with you at all times. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. This information is not intended to replace the medical advice of your health care provider. Patients who come to Mayfield with neck and back problems are given a rapid review of their medical condition within a few days, not weeks.

It's a treatment process called Priority Consult. Nearly 80 percent of our spine patients are able to recover with nonsurgical treatment. But when physical therapy, medications, and spinal injections fail to relieve neck or back pain, we help patients with surgery. We surgically implant pain pumps for a wide range of conditions, including chronic back pain, cancer pain, and spasticity. To make an appointment call The study involved five patients with a mean age of 75 years.

None of the patients experienced complications and all patients demonstrated improved pain relief. Intrathecal analgesia is also used in labour as an alternative to epidural analgesia to provide quick onset pain relief. The advantage of intrathecal analgesia is that it does not slow the progress of labour and improves the chances of vaginal rather than caesarean delivery. Protein delivery to the CNS can be useful to treat genetic diseases. Intravenous administration, however, is challenging because proteins do not cross the blood brain barrier at sufficient levels to exert a therapeutic effect.

Intrathecal delivery is therefore being investigated as an alternative route for enzyme replacement therapies. Intrathecal extraction and examination of CSF can be used as a diagnostic tool for CNS infections and other disorders.

For example, elevated levels of immunoglobulin in the CSF can be an indicator of multiple sclerosis. Despite the risks involved, intrathecal administration can improve the quality of life of patients with chronic persistent pain. Intrathecal antibiotic treatment can be life-saving in CNS infections and, as current clinical trials expect to demonstrate, intrathecal enzyme delivery may provide hope to patients with incurable genetic conditions.

References 1 Intrathecal drug delivery in chronic pain. Available at: functionalneurosurgery. CSF cell count. Available at: www. Updated national guidance on the safe administration of intrathecal chemotherapy. August The prevention of intrathecal medication errors. April A slow-release methotrexate formulation for intrathecal chemotherapy. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology ;— Intrathecal antibiotic therapy for neonatal meningitis. Archives of Disease in Childhood ;— Intrathecal drug delivery for the management of pain and spasticity in adults; recommendations for best clinical practice.

Intrathecal drug delivery.