説明
The intrathecally-implantable drug-delivery system was developed to maintain an effective concentration of vasodilatory drug in the target cistern for preventing cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), without systemic side effects nor the side effects associated with long-term intrathecal drug administration through indwelling catheters [2, 5]. Nicardipine was selected for the material of this drug delivery system because intrathecal administration of nicardipine has been reported to ameliorate or reverse vasospasm in animal SAH models [3] and has been used widely, effectively, and safely in patients with SAH, especially in Japan [4, 6]. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of nicardipine prolonged-release implant for preventing vasospasm in dogs in a doseescalating placebo-controlled blind fashion.
