Implantable Infusion Pump for Treprostinil in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Is Safe, Feasible

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who were treated with treprostinil using an implantable infusion pump experienced few serious complications, according to a research letter published in Pulmonary Circulation.

Researchers retrospectively analyzed outcome data from patients with PAH who received an implantable infusion pump to deliver intravenous treprostinil at a single study site from 2010 to 2019.

Among the 85 patients who received the implantation, 47 were women and 38 were men. Of these, 58 patients were diagnosed with PAH, 17 patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic PH, 9 patients with combined pre- and postcapillary PH, and 1 patient with group V PH. The mean age was 66 years at time of implantation.

Unplanned surgical interventions associated with the pump system were rare, at 0.158 per 1000 treatment days. Furthermore, the risk of catheter-related infections was low. However, an important finding in the long-term management of patients was the gradual increase in the flow rate of the pump over time.

“[I]mplantation of an infusion pump for intravenous treprostinil was safe and feasible in our cohort,” the study authors wrote. “Careful control and documentation of flow rate at every refill is of utmost importance as flow rate increase within the limit of technical deviation [predicted] future development of flow rate.”

Disclosure: Several study authors declared affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors’ disclosures.

Reference

Steringer-Mascherbauer R, Lummersdorfer M, Függer R, et al. Long-term experience with implantable infusion pumps for intravenous treprostinil in pulmonary arterial hypertension-procedural safety and system-related complications. Pulm Circ. Published online November 30, 2020. doi:10.1177/2045894020970830