Juniper Publishers Journal of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine

Juniper Publishers - Journal of Anesthesia Abstract Background: Intrathecal delivery of pain medication with an implantable infusion pump is being increasingly used for management of intractable pain in cancer patients. Infection of an intrathecal pump system is a rare but dangerous complication and usually leads to the removal of the whole system. Case-Presentation: The author presents the case of a 69 year old woman who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at presentation in 2009. She was treated systematically with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and underwent intrathecal pump implantation for targeted opioid delivery. Seven months after the implant, and a in a location of previous radiotherapy, she developed an infection at the site of the catheter insertion with exposure of the catheter itself. Clinically she presented with signs of local infection, high white blood cell count and back pain.She was treated with extensive surgical debridement of her ba...