[Repeated use of Drug Infusion Balloon Catheter for postoperative pain management]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate repeated use of Drug Infusion Balloon catheter (DIBC) experimentally and clinically. 1. Experimental study: The changes in flow rate by repeated use of DIBC (40 ml.12 h-1 type) were measured under room temperature (21 degrees C). 2. Clinical study: Ten patients scheduled for upper abdominal surgery were studied. DIBC (40 ml.12 h-1 type) was filled with midazolam, buprenorphine, and lidocaine. Twelve hours later, the same DIBC was filled with buprenorphine and lidocaine. The mean flow rates were, on first use; 2.91 +/- 0.51, on the second use; 2.88 +/- 0.45, on the third use; 2.75 +/- 0.44, and on the fourth use; 2.69 +/- 0.38 (ml.h-1, mean +/- SD, n = 6, P < 0.05). In the clinical study, pain scores, rates of supplemental analgesic infusion during 0-12 h period were not different from those during 12-24 h period. No complications were observed in this study. Repeated use of DIBC up to four times yielded reproducible results (+/- 8%). Repeated use of DIBC for postoperative pain relief, changing the contents according to the severity of pain, might be a useful and cost saving method.