INTRAVENOUS INFUSION

 

Intravenous or IV infusions are a specific type of treatment that is utilized at the Pain Program.  Certain pain syndromes respond to specific medications.  When these medications are given IV or into the vein, the effects are noted much quicker than if the medicines are taken by mouth.  You may be asked to have one of these infusions after your doctor has examined you.

 

LIDOCAINE INFUSION

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic.  In the case of neuralgias, or sympathetically mediated pain there are medications that can help relieve the pain by "numbing" the nerves that send the pain impulses.  If lidocaine is effective after being given into your IV then there are medications that the physician can prescribe for you to take at home that can be just as effective.

 

PHENTOLAMINE INFUSION

Phentolamine is a medication that is used most often to diagnose sympathetically mediated pain.  This infusion is used as a diagnostic block.  If the infusion is effective there are other treatments that can be used to receive longer lasting effects.  The other treatments are more invasive than an IV and this infusion is administered to give the doctor more information in formulating his diagnosis and treatment plan. Therefore if the infusion were ineffective, valuable information is obtained and the plan of care adopted will reflect this.

 

THE PROCEDURE

…         You will be asked to sign a consent form.

…         You must be having pain at this time for the infusion to be of any value.

…         You must have a driver with you and you must not have eaten in the past 6 hours.

…         An IV will be started, and a BP and EKG monitor connected to you.

…         You will be asked to rate your pain on a scale of 0-10 at different times.

…         During the infusion you feel any unusual sensations you should tell the nurse of doctor.  You may feel dizzy, have a funny taste, or hear ringing in your ears.  Please report this.

 

AFTER THE BLOCK

…         Your IV will be discontinued.

…         Your doctor will discuss the infusion with you and your plan of care.

 

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

This is a procedure that is safely performed in the outpatient setting.  As with any procedure there are potential risks.

…         Bruising or bleeding at the IV site

…         Allergic reaction to medications

…         Hypotension or low blood pressure

…         Seizure

…         Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)