Did You Know? that the Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC) 2012 has published its updated recommendations for the management of pain by intrathecal drug delivery?

Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface, the official journal of the International Neuromodulation Society, has recently provided online, early view access to published recommendations by the PACC for the management of pain by intratehcal drug delivery; trialing for intrathecal drug delivery; the reduction of morbidity and mortality in intrathecal drug delivery treatments for chronic pain; and a consensus on diagnosis, detection, and treatment of catheter-tip granulomas.

In the 2012 publications, which provide updates from the PACC 2007 published recommendations, a number of changes have been identified. One of the most notable is the division of the panel’s original algorithm from one all-encompassing guide for intrathecal medications to two distinct algorithms developed to assist clinicians in safe and effective treatment of both neuropathic and nociceptive pain.

Other significant changes include increases of Hydromorphone’s, Fentanyl’s, and Sufentanil’s maximum recommended concentrations and daily doses, and the decrease of Bupivacaine’s and Clonidine’s.

Also noteworthy is the chart of recommended starting dosage ranges for intrathecal medications.

Though we recommend accessing the full articles, which delve into much more detail than provided in this brief overview, you can see a side-by-side comparison of updates to the algorithm, maximum concentrations and dosages, and starting dosage ranges by clicking here.

Hartley Medical would like to thank the PACC for acknowledging the contributions of William Stuart, RPhPresident of Hartley Medicalin the development of the recommendations for the management of pain by intrathecal drug delivery and the consensus on diagnosis, detection, and treatment of catheter-tip granulomas. We are proud to work with the world’s greatest medical minds to advance the future of pain management by implanted drug devices.

To purchase the online Early View version of the Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference 2012: Recommendations for the Management of Pain by Intrathecal (Intraspinal) Drug Delivery: Report of an Interdisciplinary Expert Panel article, click here.

To access the online version of the Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference 2007: Recommendations for the Management of Pain by Intrathecal (Intraspinal) Drug Delivery: Report of an Interdisciplinary Expert Panel article, click here.

Copies of the additional articles from the PACC 2012 can be purchased via Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface‘s Early View online access by clicking the links below:

For more drug reviews, visit Hartley Medical’s Knowledge Center by clicking here.