Intrathecal methods

Although the use of opioids for intrathecal anesthesia was first reported in 1901, it was not until 25 years ago that the first report of selective blockade of pain by spinal opioids was described. Since its beginning, the promise of selective analgesics derived from intraspinal administration has generated much development in the field of pain management. In fact, many anesthesiologists who had previously relegated themselves to the confines of the operating room discovered that their needles and catheters could reach even beyond the inpatient wards, affording patients outside the hospital the opportunity to receive neuraxial drugs. The goal of this article is to report on the current state of spinal analgesic chemotherapy as it is now known.