Intrathecal drug delivery via a “pain pump” is a method of administering medication directly into the spinal cord and can be used for both cancerous and non-cancerous pain.
The pump is a round metallic device surgically implanted under the skin in the patient’s abdomen. A small plastic tube (catheter) is placed into the intrathecal space of the spinal column and connected to the pump, which holds the medication.
The pump is programmed to release the medication slowly over a period (0.5 ml/day or 1 ml/day). There are electronic pumps that can be programmed to release varying amounts of medication at different rates, depending on the patient’s needs.
When the reservoir is empty, the doctor refills the pump by inserting a needle into the filling port above the reservoir.