title: Applications of intrathecal catheters in children.
abstract: Access to the intrathecal space may be required for sampling of cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes, for the administration of pharmacological agents, or for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage to lower intracranial pressure. The current report details five children in whom a percutaneously placed lumbar intrathecal catheter was used: (i) to provide intraoperative surgical anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia (ii); to deliver intrathecal fentanyl to provide postoperative analgesia (iii); to provide chronic pain control during the terminal stages of metastatic malignancy; (iv) to allow repeated doses of intrathecal chemotherapy; and (v) to allow CSF drainage and prevent CSF leakage following frontal encephalocele repair. The indications and applications of intrathecal catheters in the paediatric aged patient are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health and Anesthesiology, Division of Pediatric Critical Care/Pediatric Anesthesiology, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary; D000293:Adolescent; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000295:instrumentation; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000295:instrumentation; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004322:Drainage; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000295:instrumentation; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009085:Mucopolysaccharidosis IV / Q000601:surgery; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine