Regional Anesthesia & Pain Management (RAPM)

In UHN's Anesthesia Department, there are more than 60 faculty who work and teach in the three hospitals. We are dedicated to the advancement of regional anesthesia and pain medicine by promoting new and safer methods of administering regional anesthesia, providing effective pain management for patients, extending information to physicians via web-based and practical training and education, keeping patients informed with regards to their care and generating innovative ideas that inspire research and revolutionize current techniques utilized to control pain.

What is Regional Anesthesia?
Regional anesthesia is a type of anesthetic that provides very effective pain control following surgery. It is also called a ‘nerve block.’ A nerve block involves using anesthetic (freezing) medication so that only the part of your body needing surgery is made numb. Nerve blocks provide excellent anesthesia during surgery. They also provide effective pain relief after surgery.

What is the Acute Pain Service?
The Acute Pain Service (APS) team includes an anesthesiologist and an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) who has specialized training in pain management. Acute Pain Service staff will be involved in your care if you require a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) device, an epidural or a peripheral nerve plexus catheter. We will be asked to help if you have severe or uncontrolled pain after your operation and/or if you had difficulty managing chronic pain before your operation.

Contact Us
Toronto Western Hospital
399 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 2S8
Directions

Telephone: (416) 603-5118
E-mail: christine.drane@uhn.on.ca

Site Last Updated: 06/15/04