Morphine Pump Implant

About Morphine Pump Implant

A morphine pump implant, also known as an intrathecal drug delivery system, is a surgically placed device that delivers small, continuous doses of morphine or another opioid pain medication directly into the fluid around the spinal cord, offering an option for patients with severe chronic pain, particularly from advanced cancer, that has not been adequately controlled by oral or other systemic pain medications. Delivering the medication directly at the spinal level allows effective pain relief with a much smaller dose than would be needed orally, which can reduce systemic side effects such as sedation and constipation that often accompany high-dose oral opioid therapy. Before permanent implantation, patients usually undergo a trial period with a temporary catheter or injection to confirm that this method of delivery provides meaningful pain relief. The implanted pump, a small reservoir with a programmable pump mechanism, sits under the skin of the abdomen and connects to a catheter placed in the intrathecal space. It requires periodic refilling through a simple needle procedure and dose adjustments based on the patient's ongoing pain levels. India's pain management and oncology-linked neurosurgery services offer this therapy as part of broader palliative and chronic pain care.