Evaluation of long-term outcomes with intrathecal opioid treatment: a comparison utilizing data derived from pain clinic populations in Australia and New Zealand.

Introduction: An obstacle to analysis of the long-term effectiveness of intrathecal (IT) opioids is absence of historical patient baseline data. The electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) is an initiative of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Recently published ePPOC data has provided justifiable surrogate baseline data allowing opportunities for pain outcomes research into select patient treatment groups.