We use local anesthetics in surgical procedures to block sensations of pain from such areas of the body as the arms, legs, and abdomen. Regional anesthesia is increasingly used in such surgical areas as orthopaedics, vascular, and gynecology due to the development of ultrasound-guided placement techniques, and the use of catheters for delivery of continuous local anesthesia. Our specialists are trained in ultrasound, nerve stimulation, and landmark-guided peripheral nerve blocks using both single injection and continuous catheter techniques. We offer pain management and care in two areas: an inpatient Acute Pain Service (APS) and the outpatient Center for the Assessment and Management of Pain (CAMP). Our APS specialists offer care for postsurgical pain, pain from chronic medical conditions, cancer pain, and various chronic pain syndromes in adults and children. Our CAMP team focuses on the assessment and management of a wide variety of painful conditions not related to the spine or cancer. For patients with chronic pain, we incorporate primary care, psychiatry, pain psychology, neurology, neurosurgery, and physical and occupational therapy services into our treatment. For patients in the hospital, we utilize a variety of pain relief medication approaches and delivery pathways (including oral, topical, transdermal, patient-controlled analgesia [PCA], and intravenous), as well as interventional therapies, such as regional anesthetic blocks, to optimize pain control. We also strive to incorporate alternative methods in treating pain whenever applicable, such as the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). For outpatients, we specialize in the management of pain related to: Spinal stenosis Disk disease Radiculopathy Facet arthropathy Spondylosis, spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis Post-laminectomy syndrome Cervicogenic headaches Sacroiliac joint dysfunction Piriformis syndrome Hip dysfunction Neuropathic and myofascial pain syndromes For spine-related pain, our comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to treatment includes a wide variety of oral, topical, and transdermal medications; TENS units; and advanced interventions carried out in our procedure suite. At this facility, which is equipped with fluoroscopy and ultrasound, we offer epidural steroid injections, sacroiliac and other joint injections, bursa injections, piriformis injections, trigger point injections, facet medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablation procedures, peripheral nerve injections, sympathetic blocks, and spinal cord stimulation. For patients with cancer, we offer a cancer pain treatment program atSmilow Cancer Hospital. These treatments include the latest interventions, such as various types of nerve blocks using advanced image guidance and implantable drug delivery systems to treat patients with a variety of cancers at different stages in their cancer care.

We provide anesthetic and pain relief care for thousands of children each year undergoing surgery, and those who are patients at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. Our pediatric pain management team works in collaboration with pediatricians, surgeons, and other clinicians to manage children's pain after surgery or injury. As with adults, children can suffer from a variety of pain problems. Their experience with pain can vary based on several factors, such as previous experience with pain, personality, expectations, and cognitive ability.Our multidisciplinary team controls pain through both medication and nondrug techniques. Our specialists are available for consultation for any child admitted to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital whose pain is not adequately controlled.

We provide sedation services to our pediatric hospital patients who are undergoing diagnostic testing and procedures. Our dedicated physicians and nurses work with child life specialists and other staff to ensure children feel as comfortable as possible, and that they receive appropriate pain control and sedation. We consult and coordinate care with the pediatric anesthesia team as necessary. Our physicians, advanced practice nurses (APRNs), and registered nurses are all trained in the proper use of sedating medications and airway management all have several years of experience and are highly skilled in sedation management, monitoring, and placement of intravenous (IV) catheters.