Percutaneous Cordotomy Using a Curved Tip Kanpolat Electrode for Terminal Cancer Pain - A case report-

Although oral or epidural narcotics have been considered particularly useful, limitations still remain in their effectiveness for some patients with intractable pain. A cordotomy can be a useful alternative to these treatments, but was not a widely used technique until 1980, with the development, by Levin, of a thermocouple cordotomy electrode. A thermocouple cordotomy electrode allows the impedance and tissue temperature to be monitored. Using this type of electrode, consistent clinical effects are assured, and the operating time reduced. Kanpolat developed a new type of curved tip electrode, which is more convenient for locating the proper position, especially in the cervical or thoracic areas. A terminal colon cancer patient, with huge metastasis into the retroperitoneum and thorax, was treated by a cordotomy using the Kanpolat curved tip electrode. The patient suffered from severe unilateral pain, from the right shoulder to the right flank. The dosage of narcotics was reduced by a large amount, although complete pain relief was never achieved.