Sunil Panchal

TL;DR: The use of intrathecal infusion of analgesic medications to treat patients with chronic refractory pain has increased since its inception in the 1980s, and the need for clinical research in IT therapy is ongoing.

TL;DR: An expert panel of physicians convened in 2007 to update previous recommendations and to form guidelines for the rational use of intrathecal opioid and nonopioid agents.

TL;DR: Based on the available evidence, the recommendation for intrathecal infusion systems for cancer-related pain is moderate recommendation based on the high quality of evidence and the recommendation is limited to moderatebased on the moderate quality ofevidence from non-randomized studies for non-cancer related pain.

TL;DR: Targeted intrathecal drug infusion to treat moderate to severe chronic pain has become a standard part of treatment algorithms when more conservative options fail, but it has become clear in recent years that intratheCal drug delivery is associated with risks for serious morbidity and mortality.

TL;DR: Continuous intrathecal infusion of drugs to treat chronic pain and spasticity has become a standard part of the algorithm of care and the use of opioids has been associated with noninfectious inflammatory masses at the tip of the intratheCal catheter, which can result in neurologic complications.