title: An intrathecally located broken catheter used for an intrathecal drug delivery system.
abstract: The intrathecal drug delivery system (ITDDS), an effective treatment tool for intractable spasticity and pain, is associated with various complications but breakage of the catheter is rare. We report the case of a 50-yr-old man with ITDDS, in whom an intrathecal catheter was severed, resulting in a 28.6-cm-long intrathecal fragment. The catheter completely retracted into the intrathecal space from the anchor site. The catheter was severed during spine flexion, and the total distal fragment was repositioned in the intrathecal space. Although the outcome of ITDDS was associated with the length or diameter of the broken catheter, no neurologic complications occurred in our patient. Thus, we inserted another catheter instead of removing the old one. Thereafter, the patient has been regularly followed up, and no neurologic complications have developed during the 28 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Francis Sangun
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Nahm
authors.forename: Jee Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yong Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries; D057785:Catheters; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine
keywords: Catheter; Complications; Implantable Infusion Pumps; Intrathecal Injections