Print this page | E-mail this page  Epidural Analgesia  What is
Epidural Analgesia?  Epidural Analgesia is one way of giving
pain relief after surgery. Medication is given through a thin
tube called a catheter that is put into your child’s skin near
the backbone. The thin tube is put in by an anesthesiologist
before the operation, after your child is asleep or sedated. It
is threaded into the epidural space, a small space around the
spinal cord, and then taped in place with a clear dressing.
After surgery, the catheter will be used to give your child pain
and numbing medications.  How does it work?  The medicine blocks
the pain messages that are being sent from the nerves to the
brain. The medication is given around-the-clock through a pump
to provide steady pain control for your child. Epidural
medications are given close to the location of surgery, which
allows for smaller amounts of medicine to be used right where it
is needed. Please know that we cannot take away all of your
child’s discomfort. Your child