Administration of intraspinal analgesia in the home care setting

Intraspinal analgesia can provide relief to patients suffering from intractable pain. Nurses following patients receiving intraspinal analgesia need to be familiar with care of the long-term intraspinal catheter, side effects that occur with spinal analgesia, interventions with acute tolerance, and use of drug combinations in the intraspinal infusion. Eighteen patients were observed for 1 year, using the epidural portal system. This method of intraspinal delivery permitted long-term epidural access without complications of system breakdown or catheter migration. With intraspinal infusions, the patient remained alert and could die at home with dignity, free from pain.