Opioid Infusion

When children have strong pain due to surgery, injury or illness, they require constant pain relief.

Morphine and some other strong pain relievers (opioids) can be given through the drip (intravenously). This allows your child to receive pain relief constantly, without break or delay.

If your child needs pain relief using a drip an Anaesthetist/Doctor or a member of the Pain Service will explain how this works and how we do this.

How does it work?

The pain relieving medicine, an opioid (eg.morphine) is given using a special pump attached to the drip. This pump is programmed to give the right amount of pain reliever continuously.

The infusion can be turned up by the doctor and nurse, if your child's pain increases or it can be turned down by the doctor or nurse if your child's pain decreases.

The nurse will check your child often. They will check your child's pain level, breathing rate, heart rate, oxygen levels, sleepiness and if necessary blood pressure. If you and your child have any questions or concerns between these checks just call the nurse. You play an important part in your child's pain management as you know your child best.

Each day a member of the Acute Pain Service will review your child and make any necessary changes.

Other pain relievers such as panadol (paracetamol) or nurofen (ibuprofen) may be used in conjunction with the opioid infusion.

How safe is an Opioid Infusion?

There are many safety features in the infusion machine and in the way the medicine is ordered.

An Anaesthetist or Doctor from the Acute Pain Service will order the infusion and will check your child before starting the pain relieving infusion.

The dose of pain relieving medicine used is specific to your child's weight, and the amount of pain relief needed. The chance of overdose is extremely small.

Your child will be checked every hour by a Registered Nurse. The nurse will check your child's level of pain, their breathing, their heart rate, how sleepy they are and sometimes their blood pressure.

You play an important part in caring for your child as you know your child best and can assist in measuring your child's pain at and between these checks.

The Pain Service reviews every child in hospital that is receiving an intravenous opioid infusion on a daily basis, and more often if required.

Are there any side effects of Opioid Infusions?

The most common side effect of the pain relieving medicine used is nausea and/or vomiting. The doctors and nurses are able to give other medicines to help with this whilst continuing the important pain relieving medication at the same time.

Sometimes pain relieving medicines (opioids) can cause itching, which is also easily treated.

Pain reliever medicines can make your child feel a little drowsy, if your child is asleep it is more likely that their pain relief is working. If you feel your child is too sleepy, ask your nurse to review your child.

Will my child get addicted to the pain reliever drip they are receiving?

Children do not become addicted to the pain relieving medicine as it is being given to relieve pain from an operation or sickness. If the opioid infusion is used for more than a few days your child's body may become used to the pain relieving medication, in this case the drip needs to be reduced slowly.

After the operation the opioid infusion is often needed for 2 to 5 days. Remember that every child is different, some operations can cause more pain and the infusion is needed for longer.

Your child may need pain relieving medicines that can be given by mouth after this infusion is stopped which your doctor will explain to you.

• You know your child best.
• If at any time you are concerned about your child or have any questions, please talk to a nurse or doctor.
• Pain relieving medicine given in an infusion is very safe.
• Your child will be checked very often by the nurse and/or doctor.