[Use of a disposable infusion device for continuous epidural block]

We analyzed 130 patients with intractable pain who were treated with continuous epidural block therapy using a disposable microinjector to evaluate its efficacy and utility. The mean treatment period was 4.3 +/- 0.4 weeks. After the treatment, the mean visual analog scale (VAS) improved to 3.3 +/- 0.2, from the pretreatment value of 6.5 +/- 0.1. Among the intractable pain conditions, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and pain in the neck, shoulder and upper limbs were relieved markedly, while cancer pain was difficult to reduce. These data show that continuous epidural block therapy using the disposable microinjector is particularly useful in PHN, in which sympathetic nerve block is the essential treatment. The pain in the neck, shoulder and upper limbs was relieved with continuous somatic nerve block.