Managing spasticity in spinal cord injury: safe administration of bridge boluses during intrathecal baclofen pump refills.

Abstract

Intrathecal baclofen now plays an important role in the management of spasticity in a number of neurologic conditions including spinal cord disorders. Dosage errors can be a source of significant morbidity and the risk is greatest when the clinician is changing solution concentration. When changing concentrations, it is imperative to program the pump correctly by incorporating a bridge bolus to compensate for the residual baclofen solution in the pump and catheter. This paper reviews the appropriate methods to safely calculate the bridge bolus, with an illustrative example.

• Authors: Elie Elovic, Steven C Kirshblum
• Journal: The journal of spinal cord medicine (J Spinal Cord Med) Vol. 26 Issue 1 Pg. 2-4 ( 2003) ISSN: 1079-0268 [Print] England
• PMID: 12830961 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Muscle Relaxants, Central
• Baclofen

Topics

• Baclofen (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Humans
• Infusion Pumps, Implantable
• Infusions, Parenteral
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle Relaxants, Central (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Muscle Spasticity (drug therapy, etiology)
• Spinal Cord Injuries (complications, drug therapy)