Tangled catheter as a rare cause of baclofen pump malfunction.
BACKGROUND
Several catheter problems have been reported as causes of baclofen pump malfunction; however, a tangled catheter has never been described.


METHODS
A 52-year-old woman with bilateral leg spasticity because of spinal multiple sclerosis underwent baclofen pump implantation, which was subcutaneously placed in the right upper quadrant. She visited for a pump refill 3 months postimplantation with reworsening of her leg spasticity. It was noted that there was more baclofen remaining in the pump than programmed. Abdominal x-ray indicated the kink of the catheter around the pump, and the catheter was explored under local anesthesia. Upon exposure, the catheter was found to be tangled. After the revision of this tangled catheter, the patient's spasticity improved again.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the exact mechanism of this complication is unknown, the friction-compression of the catheter against the iliac bone may be the cause. Implanting the pump away from the bony formation may avoid catheter entanglement.
Fukuhara
Toru
T
Division of Neurosurgery, Neuro-Research Institute for Stroke Care, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan. torufk@ninus.ocn.ne.jp
Tanaka
Tomotaka
T
Namba
Yoichiro
Y
Kuyama
Hideyuki
H
D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D020336:Paraparesis, Spastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D001418:Baclofen