Use of Patient-Controlled Analgesia for Management of Acute Pain

Abstract

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) provides improved titration of analgesic drugs, thereby minimizing individual pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences. Patient-controlled analgesia decreases patient anxiety resulting from delays in receiving pain-relieving medication and from the slow onset of analgesic action when these drugs are administered either intramuscularly or in the extradural space. With PCA therapy, patients are reportedly able to maintain a near optimal state of analgesia with minimal sedation and few side effects. The potential for overdose can be minimized if small bolus doses are used with a mandatory lockout interval between successive doses. Finally, studies of the cost-effectiveness of PCA therapy are important if this therapeutic approach is to achieve more widespread acceptance.

Patient-Controlled Analgesia for Sickle Cell Pain Crisis in a Pediatric Emergency Department

“…With PCA therapy, patients are able to achieve and maintain optimal analgesia with minimal sedation and few side effects. [3][4][5] Optimally, PCA therapy is initiated after satisfactory pain control has been achieved with aggressive opiate bolus doses.…”

The Effects of Residual Pain on Oxygenation and Breathing Pattern During Morphine Analgesia

“…Standard PCA settings were used for the control of pain in the first part of this study (11). During this first period, all patients required consistent doses of morphine given by autoadministration, which resulted in partial relief of pain, because the pain score was 5 cm on the VAS after one hour of PCA.…”

Intrathecal morphine (ITM) for postoperative pain control in children: a comparison with nalbuphine patient controlled analgesia (PCA)

“…All studies of PCA reported thus far have utilized morphine as the drug administered (Rodgers et al 1988;White 1988; Gaukroger, Tomkins & Van der Walt 1989; Lawrie et a!. 1990).…”