To Inadvertent Vascular Placement of an Intrathecal Catheter: A Case Report

Intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) are a treatment option for patients with chronic nonmalignant pain and cancer pain. In this case report, we describe a patient in whom an intrathecal catheter was implanted into a blood vessel rather than into the subarachnoid cavity. A contrast agent was administered, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) imaging suggested that the catheter was inserted into a blood vessel. The anterior spinal arteries and veins were verified on the ventral side of the spinal cord without interruption. To our knowledge, this is the first report of implantation of an IDDS catheter into a blood vessel.