What is Intrathecal Drug Delivery (IDD) and how does it work?
IDD is a proven, effective and reversible treatment alternative that may be suitable when other pain treatments prove unsatisfactory or produce unmanageable side effects. Results may vary from patient to patient. IDD systems consist of a pump and catheter, both of which are surgically placed under the skin. The pump is implanted in the abdominal area, just above or below the beltline. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter connects the pump to the site where the medication is to be delivered. As the pump releases medication at a set rate, it flows through the catheter to the delivery site in the intrathecal space. Because this system delivers pain medication directly to the receptors in the spinal cord, smaller doses are required to gain the relief achieved by other methods such as oral or via patch or injection. This can help reduce or relieve the side effects of taking drugs in larger doses.
