Pain Relief for Children
Anaesthetists have the main role of providing pain relief following surgery. Every child and procedure is different, so pain relief is always given according to the individual child’s needs.
During the anaesthetic, your child will be given pain relief to make the child as comfortable as possible when they wake up. If your child is uncomfortable in recovery, this can be addressed quickly with the administration of more pain medication.
After the operation, pain relief is continued in various forms. If your child is staying in hospital and has an intravenous (IV) drip, strong painkillers can be administered through this drip. If your child is returning home or is on the hospital ward for a brief time, pain relief is usually offered as tablets or syrups. Commonly used medicines include paracetamol, anti-inflammatories (eg ibuprofen), codeine or oxycodone.
Your anaesthetist will discuss with you pain relief options.