Intrathecal drug delivery systems versus comprehensive medical management for severe cancer pain: a randomized controlled trial

Cancer patients with severe pain currently receive high doses of pain medication, often with a wide range of side effects and high risk of toxicity. We will give patients intrathecal drug delivery (IDD) so that medication is administered immediately at the spinal cord and a lower dose is needed due to its more efficient action. For monthly IDD refills, hospital-at-home and
telemonitoring will be used so that patients do not have to travel to the hospital for these refills. The aim of this project is to find out whether there is a difference in quality of life in patients who receive IDD versus patients who continue to take oral pain medication. We hypothesize that IDD patients will have a better quality of life since less toxicity will occur. The difference in quality of life between the two groups will be evaluated at 6 and 12 months after initiation.