The use of an intrathecal pump to manage intractable cancer pain in a pediatric patient: a case report

A 15-year-old girl with combined immune deficiency syndrome, diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell cancer of the anus, had significant pain secondary to vulvar-perianal condyloma. Conventional treatment with oral and intravenous analgesics was limited by significant side effects of mental status changes and urinary retention leading to clinical deterioration that precluded attempts at chemotherapy. An intrathecal pump was implanted in the challenging setting of neutropenia. There was a drastic improvement in her quality of life and the ability to tolerate further chemotherapy. The option of an intrathecal pump for pain control extended our patient's ability to enjoy important quality time with family by several months.