Mortality Associated with Implantation and Management of Intratbecal Opioid Drug Infusion Systems to Treat Noncancer Pain.

The article focuses on a study which compares the rates of mortality at different intervals after intrathecal opioid drug delivery system to treat noncancer pain. In this study, epidemiological methods are used to investigate whether mortality rates reflected patient- or therapy-related differences. It discovers that patients with noncancer pain, who are treated with intrathecal opioid therapy, experience increased mortality in comparison with patients, who are treated with other therapies. Findings suggest that it may be possible to lessen mortality in noncancer intrathecal opioid therapy patients.