Which benefit would be provided by administering patient-controlled analgesia PCA to a client after surgery?
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Medically Reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD on November 13, 2021 Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is a method of pain control that gives patients the power to control their pain. In PCA, a computerized pump called the patient-controlled analgesia pump, which contains a syringe of pain medication as prescribed by a doctor, is connected directly to a patient's intravenous (IV) line. In some cases, the pump is set to deliver a small, constant flow of pain medication. Additional doses of medication can be self-administered as needed by having the patient press a button. Other times, a patient can control when they receive pain medication and do not receive a constant flow. Patients recovering from surgery often are equipped with PCA pumps. The machines also can be used by people coping with other kinds of pain. Children who are 4 to 6 years old may be able to use PCA with the help of a parent or nurse. Many children who are as young as 6 can independently use the PCA pump. The pump can be used whenever the patient is feeling pain. However, patients should not press the button on the machine if they are feeling too sleepy. The more alert the patient is, the more likely they are to participate in a therapy program to aid and possibly shorten recovery. Once the acute pain from surgery is controlled, the patient will be switched to pills for pain relief. PCA pumps have built-in safety features. The total amount of analgesic (pain reliever) that the patient can self administer is within a safe limit.
A patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump is a device that releases medicine for pain that you control with a button. Your healthcare provider presets the dosage so you can't give yourself too much.
The patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump is a computerized machine that gives you medicine for pain when you press a button. In most cases, PCA pumps supply opioid pain-controlling medicines such as morphine, fentanyl and hydromorphone. The pump is attached to a thin, flexible tube (intravenous or IV line) that is placed in your vein. This medicine is usually delivered only when you press the button (bolus), but a continuous rate may be added by your doctor if needed (basal rate). What should I know about the patient-controlled analgesia pump?Your healthcare provider sets controls on the pump, which are programmed for the pain-relieving drug that the doctor orders based on your age, weight and type of surgery. The PCA pump is safe to use because you receive medication by pressing the button when you feel pain, but the pump won’t give you the drug if it’s not time to receive another dose yet. Remember, no one should press the button on the PCA pump except you. When the pump is empty, an alarm lets the nursing staff know. Who might use a patient-controlled analgesia pump?Your doctor might give you a PCA pump to use in the hospital after surgery. Pumps also can be used by people who are dealing with other kinds of pain, including cancer pain and chronic pain problems. If your pain is severe even though you are using the pump, tell a member of your healthcare team. How often should the patient-controlled analgesia pump be used?You can use the pump whenever you feel pain. If you’re feeling sleepy, you shouldn’t push the button. The goal of the pump is to keep your pain at a level you can tolerate. What are the benefits of a patient-controlled analgesia pump?People who use the pumps often have better pain control and satisfaction compared to nurse-administered boluses. People who have good pain control move around more, cutting down on the risk of blood clots after surgery and benefit from early recovery/discharge. They experience less anxiety and can relax as they feel more in control of their pain and pain medication. Some common side effects of opioid drugs for pain include:
Less common side effects may include having stiff muscles and being more sensitive to pain. Ask your providers about any side effects that you’re worried about. They may need to change your medicine or dosage to help stop the symptoms.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/09/2021. References
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Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is a type of pain management that lets you decide when you will get a dose of pain medicine. In some situations, PCA may be a better way of providing pain relief than calling for someone (typically a nurse) to give you pain medicine. With PCA you don't need to wait for a nurse. And you can get smaller doses of pain medicine more often. With this type of pain treatment, a needle attached to an IV (intravenous) line is placed into one of your veins. A computerized pump attached to the IV lets you release pain medicine by pressing a handheld button. PCA can be used in the hospital to ease pain after surgery. Or it can be used for painful conditions like pancreatitis or sickle cell disease. It also works well for people who can’t take medicines by mouth. PCA can also be used at home by people who are in hospice or who have moderate to severe pain caused by cancer. Children as young as age 7 can benefit from PCA if they understand the idea behind the PCA and can follow instructions. But people who are confused, disoriented, or unresponsive can’t use PCA. How PCA WorksYour healthcare provider must prescribe a PCA pump for you. The pain reliever given through the pump will most likely be an opioid such as morphine or hydromorphone. This is what you may expect if a PCA is prescribed for you:
Safety Monitoring During PCA UseFrequent monitoring by your nurse is needed while you are using the PCA pump. The nurse may need to wake you up in order to check for breathing problems and other side effects. Family and friends staying with you during recovery should report any concerns of breathing problems or other side effects to the nurse right away. Risks of PCAPCA is safe and effective. The main risk is having a reaction to the opioid medicine. Side effects from opioids include:
You should be watched carefully for respiratory depression if you:
If used properly, PCA may actually reduce the risks linked to opioids because you are less likely to be overtreated or undertreated. Make sure that you are the only person who pushes the button for pain relief. If friends or family members also push the button as a way to help you, there is the danger that you might get oversedated and have trouble breathing. Also, your healthcare team should explain to everyone that you don’t have to push the button as often as allowed. You only need to press it if you need pain relief. |
