A surgically implantable nerve irrigation system for intermittent delivery of dissolved drugs: evaluation of long-term performance and histocompatibility in rats.
A surgically implantable system designed to facilitate intermittent delivery of solutions of local anesthetic or other pharmacologically active substances to a segment of peripheral nerve was developed and its long-term performance and histocompatibility were tested in rats. Twenty-two systems, each comprising a subcutaneous injection port, a silicone conduit, and a membranous perineural sheath, were implanted in 20 animals. Of the systems, 12 could be used to perform repeated local anesthetic nerve blocks for periods lasting from several weeks to as long as 13 months. The system is suitable for use in studies of peripheral nerve pharmacology and, with improvements, could find clinical use in the management of peripheral neuralgia.
Departments of Anesthesiology, Biochemistry & Genetics, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pathology, Physiology, and Surgery at Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70122, USA.
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006648:Histocompatibility; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats
D000779:Anesthetics, Local