6a: Patient-Controlled Analgesia Flashcards
what is patient-controlled analgesia?
a method of administering an opioid analgesic via a pump that allows the patient to self-administer doses (with lockout feature to prevent overdose)
uses for PCA
post surgery, cancer, chronic pain, childbirth
loading dose
initial large dose given to bring the level of analgesia to the therapeutic window
demand dose
amount of drug that can be self administered by the patient each time they activate the PCA
lockout interval
minimum amount of time allowed between each demand dose
background infusion rate
small amount of analgesic that can be continuously administered, can lead to increased risk of side effects, not routinely used
successful vs. total demands
PCA systems record the total times the patient demanded the medication versus how many times they were allowed to have it
what is the most common way to administer PCA?
through an IV via a catheter, directly into systemic circulation
why does epidural PCA give more effective analgesia than IV PCA?
drug is closer to the spinal cord and gets into systemic circulation faster
why do patients typically like PCA better than other types of administration?
- keeps the drug in the system, less down time
- patients have control
side effects of PCAs
typical side effects of opioids - sedation, GI problems, respiratory depression
rehab implications of PCA
increased pain relief - may be out of bed sooner and more alert; monitor for signs of malfunction of device; monitor for OD (sedation, respiratory depression)
