Pain Service
Explanation | Before the operation | During the operation | After the operation
What is the pain service?
Of the 25,000 procedures done every year at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the primary physician or surgeon can usually take care of the discomfort from the procedure. However, a number of surgeries require expert care for the pain that comes with those procedures.
The Pain Service is a group of nurses and physicians who specialize in taking care of pain in infants, children and young adults. The Pain Service sees close to 1,000 patients each year. With years of experience, we are capable of taking care of all types of pain.
If your child is having surgery or has a medical condition that requires extra attention to pain control, your surgeon or doctor
will contact a member
of the Pain Service to help.
Back to Top
Before the operation
A physician from the Pain Service will usually visit with you and your child before surgery to discuss the options for keeping him or her comfortable afterwards. Some of the treatments you may hear about include:
Other treatments include a variety of medicines that can be given by intravenous (IV) line or by mouth. We do not use intramuscular injections (shots) to give pain medicines.
The Pain Service physician will discuss with you the options that are reasonable for your child and his or her medical situation. Then the doctor will set up the type of pain treatment you agree on. If your child is in the hospital with a painful medical condition, your doctor can call the Pain Service to see your child while hospitalized.
Back to Top
During the operation
An epidural is a length of thin tubing that is placed in a space between the bones of the spine and the spinal cord. Medications can be given as an infusion through the epidural to keep children comfortable after surgery. Epidurals are most often placed while the child is asleep. That way, the child is not scared, does not feel it and does not move (which could cause problems).
The epidural medication is started in the operating room. This may allow the anesthesiologist to use less anesthesia, which may allow your child to wake up faster and more comfortably.
Back to Top
After the operation
PCA pumps are set up so that when your child wakes up after surgery, the button is right there, ready to be used when pain is felt. Sometimes, an infusion (a little bit of medicine that runs constantly) is set up as well. When your child hurts, he or she should press the button. No one else should press the button. This is a safety issue, and we will discuss the details with you at the time.
The PCA or epidural is most commonly used for the first few days after surgery. For children with painful medical problems, the PCA will be brought to the room, and the nurse will teach you and your child how it works. The Pain Service will visit your child every day. In addition, a physician will be available to answer questions and take care of problems 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your nurse will know how to reach the Pain Service, in case there is a question or concern about your child's pain care.
Sometimes children and young adults develop long-term pain problems from accidents, surgery, chronic disease or sometimes for no obvious reason. We have a special clinic for children with chronic pain. It is a multidisciplinary team, which includes nurses, physicians, psychologists and physical therapists. If such a problem develops for your child, your doctor can consult the Pain Management Clinic.
Back to Top
Rev. 11/04
