title: A new permanent exteriorized epidural catheter for narcotic self-administration to control cancer pain.
abstract: The lack of an available exteriorized permanent epidural catheter led to the application of the Broviac catheter technology to the development of an epidural catheter. The resulting three-piece silicone-rubber catheter system allows specific spinal-level location of the catheter tip from a lumbar entry site, and exteriorization for ease of self-administration. Fifty-five cancer patients with metastatic disease and intractable pain received 58 catheters. No catheter infections were found during 3891 catheter-days of use, and only 18 minor side effects were noted, with no respiratory depression observed. Hospitalizations for pain control was decreased by 90% after catheter placement. Therefore, the authors recommend early placement of this silicone-rubber epidural catheter to control pain unrelieved by oral analgesics.
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012646:Self Administration; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics