Sunday, April 15, 2012


Patient Control Analgesia

In a hospital setting, a PCA refers to an electronically controlled infusion pump that delivers an amount of intravenous analgesic (usually an opioid) that is set by the patient.PCA can be used for both acute and chronic pain patients. It is commonly used for post-operative pain management, and for end-stage cancer patients.
Narcotics are the most common analgesics administered through PCAs. It is important for caregivers to monitor patients for the first two to twenty four hours to ensure they are using the device properly