Anaesthetists Handbook - MEDICAL EDUCATION at University ...

Pain management and postoperative careDefinitionIntrathecal analgesia is the injection of an opioid, usuallypreservative-free morphine, directly into the cerebrospinal fluid in thespinal canal. This is commonly a single injection only and will only beadministered by an anaesthetist.Aim• To introduce new methods for pain control having due regard forpatient safety.• To provide nursing and medical staff with the relevant educationin order to safely manage patients who have had intrathecalanalgesia.• To monitor and audit activity and effectiveness of the technique.Patient selectionThe anaesthetist will:• Assess the patient for suitability for this method of pain relief andensure that the coagulation status of the patient has beenchecked and is within normal limits.• Educate the patient about this method of analgesia and anydevice that may be used with it e.g. PCA.• Discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with the patient.Patient safety• Following the injection of opiates into the intrathecal space by ananaesthetist, the prescription of supplementary opiate analgesiais the responsibility of the anaesthetist concerned or his deputy.• The availability of a bed in the high dependency unit, PACU orother specifically designated area, is a pre-requisite for thisanalgesia technique.Anaesthetists Handbook January 2010 111