Benefits and Risks – Drug Pumps

Studies show that drug pumps (intrathecal drug delivery systems) may increase cancer pain relief and comfort for people with severe pain.^1-4 Talk with your doctor about the benefits, risks, and responsibilities involved with using a drug pump for cancer pain management.

Benefits

According to surveys of patients and caregivers, drug pumps improve quality of life.⁴ Typically, people who have success with intrathecal drug treatment:

Experience significant pain control^1-4
Use significantly smaller doses than oral medication^1-4
Are able to improve their activities of daily living^1-4

In addition, this treatment:

Dosage may be adjusted for your comfort
It is reversible – your doctor can completely remove the system

Risks

As with any pain treatment, complications can occur.

Risks may include:

Surgical complications, such as infection
Drug side effects (symptoms of overdose or underdose)
Blood (hematoma) or fluid (seroma) in the pocket where the pump is implanted
Spinal fluid leaks resulting in headaches or other problems, and damage to the spinal cord
A dislodged or blocked catheter
The pump could stop working
Inflammatory mass at the tip of the catheter

These complications could cause a reduction in or loss of pain relief and may require surgery to correct.

See Important safety information for more details.

References

Onofrio BM, Yaksh TL. Long-Term Pain Relief Produced by Intrathecal Infusion in 53 Patients. J Neurosurg 1990; 72: 200-209.
Lamer TJ. Treatment of Cancer-Related Pain: When Orally Administered Medications Fail. Mayo Clin Proc 1994; 69:473-480.
Portenoy RK. Management of Common Opioid Side Effects During Long-Term Therapy of Cancer Pain. Ann Acad Med 1994; 23:160-170.
Smith TJ, Staats PS, Deer T, Randomized Clinical Trial of an Implantable Drug Delivery System Compared with Comprehensive Medical Management for Refractory Cancer Pain: Impact on Pain, Drug-Related Toxicity and Survival. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20:4040-4049.

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Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.

Last updated: 3 Aug 2008