Permanent mechanical deformation of an intrathecal baclofen pump secondary to scuba diving: a case report

• Published in: Spinal cord Vol. 51; no. 11; pp. 868 - 869
• Main Authors: Draulans, N, Roels, E, Kiekens, C, Nuttin, B, Peers, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.11.2013; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/699/375/1824; 692/700/565; Accidents; Adult; Anatomy; Baclofen - administration & dosage; Baclofen - therapeutic use; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; case-report; Diving - adverse effects; Human Physiology; Humans; Infusion Pumps, Implantable - adverse effects; Injections, Spinal - methods; Male; Muscle Relaxants, Central - therapeutic use; Muscle Spasticity - drug therapy; Neurochemistry; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; Spinal Cord Injuries - drug therapy; spinal cord injury; intrathecal baclofen; diving; complication; spasticity
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sc.2013.43

Study design: Case report. Objectives: To describe the case of a spinal cord injury patient that went scuba diving resulting in a mechanical deformation of his intrathecal baclofen pump. Setting: University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. Methods: Case report. Results: Diving below 10 meters of depth can result in irreversible mechanical damage of the drug reservoir of an intrathecal baclofen pump. Conclusion: Patients with an intrathecal baclofen pump should be warned for the risks associated with scuba diving and should not dive more than 10 meters below sea level.