We describe six cases of head and neck or upper limb cancer palliative care patients with refractory pain, treated with an intrathecal catheter placed at cervical or upper thoracic spinal levels with a non-implanted, externalized and tunnelled delivery system. In these cases, this system was safe and effective. Palliative Medicine 2007;21: 543—545
Baker L., Lee M., Regnard C., Crack L., Callin S.Evolving spinal analgesia practice in palliative care. Palliat Med2004; 18: 507—15.
2.
Burton A., Rajagopal A., Shah H., Mendoza T., Cleeland C., Hassenbusch S., Arens J.Epidural and intrathecal analgesia is effective in treating refractory cancer pain. Pain Med2004; 5: 239—47.
3.
Appelgren L. , Janson M., Nitescu P., Curelara I.Continuous intracisternal and high cervical intrathecal bupivacaine analgesia in refractory head and neck pain. Anesthesiology1996; 84(2): 249—52.
4.
Van Melkebeke S, Wostyn L., Gellens P., Camu F.Continuous cervical intrathecal administration of morphine with a new infusion pump, the Anschütz IP 35.1: A case report . Acta Anaesthesiol Belg1995; 46(2): 87—91.
5.
Newcastle Spinals Group. Local Spinal Line Guidelines of the Newcastle Hospices/Hospitals. Issued July 2003, Updated May 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2007, from http://www.ncn.nhs.uk/portal_repository/files/SpinalLinesGuidelinesmay06.pdf .
