Open Access(634) Reliability and Clinical Utility of an Implanted Intraspinal Catheter Used in the Treatment of Spasticity and Pain
Author(s) -
David A. Fishbain,
Robert Cutler,
Hubert L. Rosomoff,
Renee SteeleRosomoff
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-4637.2000.000024-33.x
Subject(s) - medicine , catheter , spasticity , intrathecal , anesthesia , surgery , implant , single center , prospective cohort study , clinical trial
Authors: Elliot Krames, Pacific Pain Treatment Center; Iva Chapple, Carolina Pain Center Objectives: To examine the performance and reliability of a redesigned implantable intrathecal catheter. Materials: A total of 212 catheters were implanted in 202 patients in this 22‐center, prospective study of an implantable catheter/pump system used to deliver intrathecal drugs for the treatment of pain and spasticity. Along with physician assessments of each use, the rates of common catheter complications (dislodgements, disconnections, fractures, and kinks) experienced during the study were analyzed in relation to implant conditions (catheter entry site, tip position, and anchoring method). Results: A cumulative study of 3112.8 months of patient experience (average: 15.4 months; range: 0 to 30.2 months per catheter) revealed an overall catheter‐caused complication rate of 0.3% per patient month. Physician assessments were favorable, with 89% rating this catheter as better than previously used intraspinal catheters. A measure of catheter survival estimates (Kaplan‐Meier) at 9 months was 89% including all complications. Comparison of data relating to implant techniques demonstrated a variety of catheter implant techniques (entry, positioning, anchoring) with no correlation between any one technique and the common complications. Conclusions: Performance data and physician assessments indicate that this catheter is an improvement over the previously available catheter.