Intrathecal Pump Therapy
Description
Intrathecal pump therapy for cancer pain reduces pain by delivering medication directly to the area surrounding the spinal cord, thus requiring much smaller doses of medication for relief.
How It’s Performed
A pump and catheter are surgically implanted beneath the skin by an IPI physician. The pump, implanted in the abdominal area, is connected to the catheter, which is tunneled under the skin to the specific site where the medication is needed.
Candidates For This Procedure
Patients who have intractable cancer pain or have profound side effects from their pain medications.
How Long It Takes
90 to 120 minutes for the surgical procedure.
Results
By delivering medication directly to the source of the pain, less medication is used and, thus, patients experience fewer side effects associated with pain medication. Additionally, pain relief is more profound. To know more about Intrathecal Pump Therapy, please visit Chicago Pain Center or schedule an appointment online