Pain Relief After Surgery

As anesthesiologists, one of our major concerns is the relief of pain after surgery. There are a number of ways to help children feel more comfortable after their operation. For many minor procedures, a local anesthetic can be injected into the incision while the child is asleep. The local anesthetic can last up to four to six hours. when the anesthetic wears off, either acetaminophen (Tyelenol) or a prescription pain medicine can be given if necessary.

Narcotic pain medicines are often used either in addition to a local anesthetic or as the sole method of pain relief. The medicine can be injected intramuscularly or through the intravenous line if the child has one. If the child is going to have an IV after surgery, the narcotic can continue to be given intravenously. Older children who can follow directions, can use patient-controlled anesthesia (PCA) which allows the child to self-administer a fixed dose of pain medicine via the IV. This type of pain relief is generally only needed for major operations.

Occasionally when the operation is major and the child will remain in the hospital overnight, an epidural or caudal anesthetic may be suggested for post operative pain relief. Talk to your anesthesiologist about all of these options.