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Intraventricular Drug DeliveryIntracisternal drug delivery is the delivery of pain medication within the cerebrospinal fluid of the cistern (C1-2 vertebra) and intracranial ventricles. By administering medication directly, less medication is needed, and fewer side effects are seen than with orally administered drugs. The medicine is delivered through an implanted catheter connected to a pump. The pump may be programmable, and either implanted or external. Intracisternal or intraventricular delivery of analgesic agents is primarily used for patients with head and neck pain, as in pain from tumors of the face and neck. Direct delivery of agents intracisternally or intraventricullarly bypasses the first pass effect of agents that are delivered orally and diffuse into the substance of the spinal cord/ and or brain . . . |
