Benefits and Risks – Drug Pumps

Studies show that drug pumps (intrathecal drug delivery systems) may increase pain relief and comfort for people with severe chronic pain.^1-5 Talk with your doctor about the benefits, risks, and responsibilities involved with using a drug pump for chronic pain.

Benefits

Typically, people who have success with pumps:

Experience significant pain relief^1-5
Use significantly smaller doses than oral medication^1-5
Have fewer side effects than those using oral medications^1-5
Are able to improve their activities of daily living^1-5

In addition, with this treatment:

Dosage may be adjusted for your comfort
It is reversible – your doctor can remove the system
Therapy can be tried for a short period of time before you receive a permanent implant

Risks

As with any pain treatment, side effects 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 area where the pump is implanted
Spinal fluid leaks resulting in headaches or other problems, and injury 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.
Winkelmuller M, Winkelmuller W. Long-Term Effects of Continuous Intrathecal Opioid Treatment in Chronic Pain of Nonmalignant Etiology. J Neurosurg 1996; 85: 458-467.
Paice JA, Penn RD, Shott S. Intraspinal Morphine for Chronic Pain: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study. J Pain Symptom Manage 1996; 11(2): 71-80.
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.

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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