What Is a Drug Pump?

Drug pumps (intrathecal drug delivery systems) delivery pain medication to the fluid around the spinal cord, called the intrathecal space. Because the drug pump releases medication directly to the pain receptors in the spine, pain relief can be achieved with a small fraction of the oral medication dose.^1-6

SynchroMed II Drug Pump

About the Drug Delivery System

The system consists of a pump and catheter, both of which are surgically placed under the skin. The pump is a round device that stores and delivers pain medication. It is placed in your abdomen. The catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is inserted into your spine and connected to the pump.

During the surgery, your doctor fills the pump with pain medication using a needle. The pump sends the medication through the catheter to the spinal area where pain receptors are located. You return to your doctor for more medicine when the pump needs to be refilled.

How It Works

The spinal cord is like a highway for pain signals that are heading to the brain. When the pump sends pain medication directly to the spine, it interrupts the pain signals before they reach the brain.

Medtronic Products

Drug delivery therapy from Medtronic may help manage your cancer pain so you are more comfortable and able to perform your usual daily activities, although it may not be possible to eliminate your pain completely.

The Medtronic SynchroMed^® drug delivery system consists of:

A battery-operated pump surgically placed under the skin of the abdomen
A soft tube called a catheter, surgically placed under the skin, that carries the medication from the pump to the intrathecal space of the spine
A handheld programmer your clinician uses to adjust the medication dosage to treat your pain
A handheld patient control device called myPTM^® that allows you to give yourself an extra dose of medication (within physician-set parameters) in response to intermittent pain (ask your clinician if this device is appropriate for your condition and if it is covered by your insurance)

It is important to note that the system can be surgically removed if you decide to discontinue the therapy.

What Patients Say

Watch this video to learn more about drug delivery therapy and hear the stories of those who manage their cancer pain with this therapy.

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.
Ruan X. Drug-related side effects of long-term intrathecal morphine therapy. Pain Physician. 2007;10:357-366.
Smith TJ, Swainey C, Coyne PJ. Pain management, including intrathecal pumps. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2005;9:243-248.
Winkelmüller M, Winkelmüller W. Long-term effects of continuous intrathecal opioid treatment of chronic pain of nonmalignant etiology. J Neurosurg. 1996;85:458-467.

Next: SynchroMed II Drug Pump

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: 8 Feb 2010