Key points about epidural analgesia in children
- an epidural helps manage your child’s pain during and after surgery
- your child’s epidural usually stays in place for 2 to 3 days after surgery
What is an epidural?
An epidural is a very effective way to control pain during and after major surgery to the chest, tummy or legs.
An anaesthetist (a specialist doctor) keeps your child asleep and comfortable during surgery. They will put your child's epidural catheter in place.
What happens during an epidural
First, the anaesthetist gives your child an anaesthetic so they are asleep.
The anaesthetist uses a special needle to place a thin plastic tube (epidural catheter) into the epidural space in your child’s back. Nerves that carry pain signals pass through this epidural space. Medicine given here helps block these pain messages.
The anaesthetist removes the needle but leaves the thin plastic tube in place.
Once the epidural catheter is in place, the anaesthetist injects a ‘numbing’ medicine called a local anaesthetic, through it. This helps keep your child comfortable when they wake after surgery.
The epidural catheter connects to a machine called an infusion device. This machine contains a bag of medicine. This machine gives a continuous amount of local anaesthetic to keep your child comfortable on the ward. The pain or anaesthesia team can add other medicines if needed to improve pain relief.
Checking the epidural
The ward nurse will regularly check your child and the epidural. If there are any concerns, they will contact the specialist nurse or doctor.
Sometimes the epidural may not work well. If this happens, a health professional may give extra local anaesthetic through the catheter.
Your child may also receive pain medicine (morphine) through an intravenous (IV) line. If the epidural is not working well, the team may use a different method to manage pain.
What an epidural feels like
An epidural should help manage your child’s pain.
Depending on where the doctor placed the epidural, your child’s legs may feel weak, heavy or ‘wobbly’. This is normal.
Your child may also have a urinary catheter which is a small plastic tube placed in the bladder. This is because they may not feel the need to wee. A health professional places the catheter while your child is asleep during surgery.
How long epidurals stay in for
Your child’s epidural usually stays in place for 2 to 3 days, depending on the type of surgery they had.
When your child no longer needs it, a health professional will remove the epidural catheter. This is not painful, although removing the plaster may feel uncomfortable.
The health professional can then give your child other pain medicine if needed. They can give this medicine:
- as a tablet
- as syrup
- through an intravenous (IV) line
Acknowledgements
Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand acknowledge the cooperation of the Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland District Health Board in making the content on this page available to patients and families.
