Perceived Success and Failure of Intrathecal Infusion Pump Implantation in Chronic Pain Patients

Objectives.  Over the past few years, there has been an increased reliance on the intrathecal delivery of drugs for patients suffering from intractable pain. We sought to demonstrate the effectiveness of the intrathecal pain pump by examining self-reported pre- and postimplantation pain levels. Methods.  Eighty-four patients who had elected to implant a Medtronic SynchroMed 1 or 2 system in order to control their pain were asked to complete a survey. The survey consisted of pain ratings before implantation, pain ratings postimplantation, medications used before and after implantation, and patient satisfaction with the procedure. Results.  Perceived success rate for implantation is 68%, when measured by the ability to reduce reliance on oral medication. When measured by willingness to undergo the procedure again, the success rate is 86%. Conclusions.  Overall, the implantation of an intrathecal pain pump is an effective way for most people to manage their intractable pain and reduce reliance on oral medications.