Advancing heart surgery since 1967.

Post Operative Pain Management
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 


Epidural Narcotic Administration
for Post Operative Pain Management

What is Epidural Narcotic Administration?

  • Epidural Narcotic Administration is a way of giving pain medicine to patients after surgery.
  • A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into an area surrounding the spinal cord called the epidural space. This space contains many nerve endings connected to other parts of the body.
  • Pain medicine flows through the catheter into the epidural space and blocks the pain signals normally sent to the nerve endings.


How does it work?

Before Surgery - Insertion of Catheter:

  • The physician numbs the area of your back where the catheter is to be placed.

    Patient Positions for Epidural Catheter Placement


  • A special needle is used to insert the catheter into the epidural space.
  • When the needle is removed the catheter and tubing remain in place and are secured with tape.

After Surgery (catheter usually in place 3-4 days):

  • Strong pain relieving medicine is pumped through the catheter into the area surrounding the nerves of your back.
  • The medicine blocks the pain signals normally carried to your brain.
  • Continuous flow of the medicine provides smooth continuous pain relief. You never have to wait for a nurse to administer the shot.
  • An anesthesiologist will visit you daily to assess the effectiveness of the pain management program.
  • Patients receiving pain medicine in this manner are
        - more alert
        - able to tell doctors and nurses how they are feeling.

The doctors and nurses can work with you to adjust the medicine to increase pain relief and decrease side effects.

Pain rating scales and charts like the ones below are often used to help patients describe the amount of pain they are experiencing.

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  
No Pain ________________________________________________ Worst Pain
Imaginable



Who can have Epidural Narcotic Administration?


Epidurally administered pain medicines have been used to safely and effectively treat certain types of pain, including that of childbirth and surgery.

The procedure is appropriate for children and adults about to undergo surgery of the:

· chest ·abdomen · legs
·hips · pelvic area






Advantages:
  • less pain
  • smooth, continuous pain relief
  • earlier ability to walk and move around
  • more alert and aware of surroundings
  • easily adjustable
  • faster return to normal lung function (especially beneficial to patients with lung disease)
  • better toleration of the coughing and deep breathing exercises following

Possible Side Effects:

  • itching
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • drowsiness
  • tingling or numbing in extremities
  • infection
  • cerebral spinal fluid leak
  • headache

    Note: Most side effects can be managed or eliminated by adjusting the
    medicine or removing the catheter.



    Please feel free to ask your anesthesiologist for additional information. They will be glad to answer any questions you have about Epidural Narcotic Administration.