Breast Augmentation & Breast Implant Information Web - Frequently Asked Questions

Pain Pump A pain pump is a non-electrical device that delivers local pain medication to a surgical site, after surgery.  It uses a small high-tech balloon that holds local anesthetic (a pain numbing medication) and delivers it through a tiny specially-designed tube (see device made by ON-Q at left) directly into the surgical incision site. The medication is delivered continuously and slowly for up to five days after surgery.   The device is put in place by your surgeon and provides continuous pain relief in those important first days after surgery. Similar to your dentist injecting Novocain into your mouth to create a numbing effect, the device soaks the surgical site to create a numbing effect. Because a pain pump directs medication only into the area where you have pain, the rest of your body stays in your normal, comfortable state. The result? Your pain is relieved and you avoid the nausea, breathing problems, drowsiness, grogginess, constipation or sleepiness - all of which are side effects of narcotic painkillers. Two commonly used pain pumps are the On-Q pain pump made by I-Flow and one made by Stryker Corporation.   Details on how one pain pump (the ON-Q pain pump) by I-Flow Corporation, works: ON-Q is put in place by a surgeon during the operation. The small balloon is connected to a tiny specially-designed tube that the surgeon places near the surgery site. ON-Q begins soaking the site with pain-numbing medication immediately after surgery and works continuously for up to five days. The ON-Q system can be worn discreetly and may accompany you home. ON-Q works automatically. ON-Q keeps the incision site "numb", thus reducing pain. The doctor, nurse or you easily removes the pump and tube when all of the medicine has been delivered. You can get back to normal activities and body functions faster than with pain-relieving narcotics Common pain medications used in pain pumps include Marcaine and ropivacaine.  Pain pumps are portable, and can be worn anywhere, but they cannot get wet.  Warning:  If you notice any of these symptoms, notify your plastic surgeon: Increase in pain Redness, swelling, pain, or discharge at catheter site Skin rash or hives Excessive excitability, restlessness, or extreme drowsiness Side effects from the medication, including: dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in ears, metallic taste in mouth, numbness & tingling of the mouth and lips, nausea, vomiting, and/or any other side effects that you do not feel are normal. It should be noted that you may experience numbness around the incision site, so you should be careful, so as to avoid injury to the area.  Updated: 01/17/2007

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