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/ Back to home / Conditions, tests & treatments A-Z / Treatments / Opioid infusion (pain management)
Opioid infusion (pain management)Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child. Key points to remember
 Back to TopIntroductionWhen children have strong pain due to surgery, injury or illness, they require continuous pain relief.
Morphine and some other opioids (strong pain relievers) can be used intravenously (in the drip). This allows your child to receive pain relief quickly, effectively and continuously if required.
If your child needs continuous pain relief (an infusion), an anaesthetist, your hospital’s pain service or a member of the team looking after your child will explain the process to you.
Back to TopHow does it work?An infusion is administered by a pump and will provide an accurate constant amount of an opioid through the drip.
The infusion can be turned up or down depending on each individual child's need.
The nurse will monitor your child, and they will be able to change the infusion rate depending on your child's need.
If your child experiences an acute attack of pain, the nurse will be able to give an extra quick dose of opioid (a bolus) through the machine, so that your child's pain is relieved without delay.
An opioid infusion will control pain on its own, however it will work "better" combined with oral medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Back to TopHow safe is an opioid infusion?VERY.
Your medical team has strict guidelines for administration to enhance its safety.
An anaesthetist or doctor from your child's team will order the infusion and will assess your child prior to commencing the infusion.
The dose of opioid used is specific to your child's weight, and pain relief requirement. The chance of overdose is extremely small.
Some children, especially babies and toddlers, may be placed on monitors initially for extra observation.
A medical team reviews every child in hospital that is receiving an intravenous opioid infusion on a daily basis, and more often if required.
They will make recommendations or changes so that your child gets the best analgesia (pain relief) that is possible.
Back to TopAre there any side effects of opiates?The most common side effects of morphine are nausea and vomiting. Initially this may be due to the surgery, anaesthesia or other factors, but if it does continue, other medications can be given to your child to reduce this while they still receive important pain relief.
Sometimes opiates can cause itching, which is easily treated.
Opioid can make your child feel a little drowsy, but if your child is asleep it is more likely that their analgesia is adequate.
Don't forget what their bodies are going through, and that they will need and want to sleep more to help them get better.
Back to TopWill my child get addicted to the opioid they receive?NO. Opiates that are used to relieve pain do just that. People that abuse drugs and become addicted do not have acute pain from surgery or medical illness.
Following surgery, intravenous opioid is typically used for two to five days. Of course every child is different, and some types of surgery can result in more pain.
Once your child is over the acute period of their illness, the amount of opioid being given to them will slowly be decreased and your child will eventually be weaned to oral preparations, the same as you buy for pain relief at home.
Opioid infusions that are used for medical illness pain will be used for the length of time that your child needs it. The infusion will be adjusted according to your child's need, and turned down as their pain relief requirement lessens.
Even if your child needs pain relief (the opioid) for a long period of time, your hospital's pain service or a member of the team looking after your child will plan to wean them slowly under close supervision, so that your child remains comfortable and does not experience withdrawal.
Back to TopAcknowledgementsStarship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand acknowledge the co-operation of The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick, and Kaleidoscope - Hunter Children's Health Network in making this fact sheet available to patients and families.
Back to TopYour notesEndorsement
This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 21/02/2006
CopyrightFact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation. © The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012
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