ÐÇ¿ÕÌåÓý

Introduction

An epidural is a way of giving anaesthetic or pain relief through a thin tube inserted into your child’s lower back. It can help relieve pain by numbing the area of the body where surgery was done. 

Epidurals are given by a specialist doctor called an anaesthetist. An anaesthetist looks after anaesthesia and pain management.

Epidurals generally have fewer side effects than other ways of giving pain relief and may be recommended for major surgery on the:

• chest
• abdomen or belly
• lower limbs.

Before any procedure, the hospital will call you to let you know:

• what time you need to arrive
• when your child needs to stop eating and drinking
• whether it is a day procedure or whether they will stay overnight in the hospital.

Your child’s anaesthetist will talk to you about the epidural, including the benefits, risks, and any alternatives. 

An epidural will only be recommended if it gives the best pain relief and recovery for your child. 

Your child will be under a general anaesthetic for the procedure. This means they will be asleep and will not feel any pain.

The epidural will be given once your child is under the general anaesthetic.

1. the anaesthetist uses a special needle to insert a thin tube called an epidural catheter into your child’s lower back
2. the tube will go into the space just outside the spinal cord, called the epidural space
3. once the tube is in place, the needle is removed
4. the tube is covered with tape so that it cannot be pulled out
5. a plastic dressing is placed on your child’s back.

Some children will also need to have a urinary catheter while they have an epidural. A urinary catheter is a thin tube inserted into the bladder to drain the bladder.

The urinary catheter will be inserted during your child’s procedure.

The epidural will stay in place after the operation. It will be connected to a pump that gives a mixture of medicines, including pain relief and a local anaesthetic that numbs the lower half of the body.

If the epidural is working well, your child won’t feel any pain in the area covered by the epidural. 

They may be able to feel the tape and dressing on their back, and they may feel a bit strange if they move around.

Let your child’s treatment team know if they are feeling: 

• any pain or discomfort
• numbness
• cold skin
• heaviness in their legs.

Your child should not try to walk on their own while they have an epidural. Let your child’s nurse know if they want to move out of bed.