One way to maximise the benefits of TIVA is to utilise preventive analgesia. This is a term used to describe the practice of decreasing central sensitisation to pain throughout the entire peri-operative period. There has been some controversy over the technique when it was previously referred to as pre-emptive analgesia but there is little doubt that interventions designed to attenuate noxious stimuli and limit the adverse effects of tissue injury and the inflammatory process, particularly if given early, can be highly efficacious. The ultimate goal is to build a regimen where there are no gaps in analgesic coverage that could result in central sensitisation. By preventing pain signals from reaching the central nervous system we can expect to decrease both post-operative pain and consumption of analgesics, which will complement the smooth recovery seen with TIVA.