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Intrathecal (intra- + theca, "within a sheath") is an adjective that refers to something occurring in or introduced into the anatomic space or potential space inside a sheath, most commonly the arachnoid membrane of the brain or spinal cord[1] (under which is the subarachnoid space). For example, intrathecal immunoglobulin production is production of antibodies in the spinal cord,[2] and an intrathecal injection (often simply called "an intrathecal") is a route of administration for drugs via an injection into the spinal canal, more specifically into the subarachnoid space so that it reaches the CSF and is useful in spinal anaesthesia, chemotherapy, or pain management applications. This route is also used to introduce drugs that fight certain infections, particularly post-neurosurgical. The drug needs to be given this way to avoid the blood brain barrier. The same drug given orally must enter the blood stream and may not be able to pass out and into the brain. Drugs given intrathecally often have to be made up specially by a pharmacist or technician because they cannot contain any preservative or other potentially harmful inactive ingredients that are sometimes found in standard injectable drug preparations.

The abbreviation "IT" is best not used; instead, "intrathecal" is spelled out to avoid medical mistakes.

Subarachnoid space
1316 Meningeal LayersN.jpg
Latin Spatium subarachnoideum,
cavum subarachnoideale
Gray's p.876
MeSH A08.186.566.166.686
Anatomical terminology

Intrathecal administration of analgesic agents[edit]

Main article: Spinal anaesthesia
  • Very popular for a single 24-hour dose of analgesia (opioid with local anesthetic)
  • Caution because of late onset respiratory depression
  • Severe pruritus and urinary retention may limit the use of intrathecal morphine
  • Pethidine has the unusual property of being both a local anaesthetic and opioid analgesic which occasionally permits its use as the sole intrathecal anaesthetic agent

Intrathecal chemotherapy[edit]

Intrathecal baclofen[edit]

Main article: Intrathecal pump

Often reserved for spastic cerebral palsy, intrathecally-administered baclofen is done through an intrathecal pump implanted just below the skin of the stomach, (or behind the chest wall, depending on the surgeon implanting the device, and patient preferences), with a tube (called the 'catheter') connected directly to the base of the spine, where it bathes the spinal cord using a dose about one thousand times smaller than that required by orally-administered baclofen. Intrathecal baclofen also carries none of the side effects, such as sleepiness, that typically occur with oral baclofen. However, intrathecal baclofen pumps carry serious clinical risks, such as infection or a possibly fatal sudden malfunction, that oral baclofen does not.

A tremendous amount of care is taken to ensure the optimal location of the pump and catheter, based upon medical considerations and patient requirements.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ "Route of Administration". Data Standards Manual. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 11 March 2011. 
  2. ^ Meinl, E; Krumbholz, M; Derfuss, T; Junker, A; Hohlfeld, R (2008). "Compartmentalization of inflammation in the CNS: a major mechanism driving progressive multiple sclerosis". Journal of the neurological sciences 274 (1–2): 42–4. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2008.06.032. PMID 18715571. 
  3. ^ Schulmeister L (September 2004). "Preventing vincristine sulfate medication errors". Oncology Nursing Forum 31 (5): E90–8. doi:10.1188/04.ONF.E90-E98. PMID 15378106. 
  4. ^ Qweider M, Gilsbach JM, Rohde V (March 2007). "Inadvertent intrathecal vincristine administration: a neurosurgical emergency. Case report". Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine 6 (3): 280–3. doi:10.3171/spi.2007.6.3.280. PMID 17355029.