Targeted drug delivery via intrathecal pain pump for the treatment of malignant pain

Cancer patients experience pain at significant rates but are often undertreated—it is estimated that less than 1% of eligible cancer pain patients receive appropriate targeted drug delivery to address their pain. Cancer pain is often managed with systemic opioid treatment; however, this approach is limited in treating pain adequately and carries significant side effect risk profiles. Successful treatment of pain is closely tied to better oncologic outcomes as well as better measures on assessments of quality of life for cancer patients. Placement of intrathecal pain pumps represent a safe and effective way to manage pain in cancer patients. We describe the process of placing intrathecal pain pumps in an interventional radiology suite. This method of pump placement represents a minimally invasive approach to long term and continuous pain relief. Intrathecal pain pumps help maximize pain control for patients experiencing refractory pain due to disease process or treatments associated with malignancy.