title: Intraventricular baclofen as an alternative to intrathecal baclofen for intractable spasticity or dystonia: outcomes and technical considerations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the benefits of intraventricular baclofen (IVB) therapy for the treatment of intractable spasticity or dystonia in a subset of patients who had experienced multiple revisions while receiving intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed the charts of 22 consecutive patients with intractable spasticity or dystonia who initially underwent ITB therapy, subsequently suffered multiple revisions during ITB therapy, and ultimately received IVB therapy, all during a 12-year period from November 1998 to October 2010. The intraventricular catheters were positioned in the lateral ventricle, aided by stereonavigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgical revision rate (the average number of surgical revisions per average number of follow-up years) during ITB therapy was 0.84, and was 0.50 during IVB therapy. The most frequent complication requiring surgical revision during ITB therapy was catheter occlusion, followed by pump malfunction/pump pocket issues, and infection. The most frequent complication requiring surgical revision during IVB therapy was infection, followed by catheter misplacement/migration. Four patients suffered infection that required removal of their intraventricular catheter, and currently have no baclofen system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some of these patients had a history of increasing revisions with increasing frequency during ITB therapy. Such a history puts them at risk for spinal arachnoiditis, a condition that complicates further ITB therapy. For such patients, the authors believe that IVB therapy may be a beneficial therapeutic option, given that the surgical revision rate was lower for IVB than for ITB. Intraventricular baclofen may be a cost-effective option for patients with mounting revisions during ITB therapy.
authors.affiliation: Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University Department of Neurological Surgery, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Ha Son
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Gadol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular / Q000379:methods; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D001418:Baclofen