patient-controlled analgesia


pa·tient-con·trolled an·al·ges·i·a (PCA),

a method for control of pain based on use of a pump for the constant intravenous or, less frequently, epidural infusion of a dilute narcotic solution that includes a mechanism for the self-administration at predetermined intervals of a predetermined amount of the narcotic solution if the infusion fails to relieve pain. Synonym(s): patient-controlled anesthesia

patient-controlled analgesia

Pain management A method for self-administration of narcotic-analgesics via a programmable pump; PCA is used for pain of terminal CA, postsurgery, angina pectoris, L&D Agents Fentanil, meperidine, morphine, sufentanil; PCA is delivered IV, subcutaneously or epidurally. See Pain.

pa·tient-con·trolled an·al·ge·si·a

(PCA) (pā'shĕnt kŏn-trōld' an'ăl-jē'zē-ă) A method for control of pain based on use of a pump for the constant intravenous or, less frequently, epidural infusion of a diluted narcotic solution that includes a mechanism for the self-administration at predetermined intervals of the narcotic solution should the infusion fail to relieve pain.

patient-controlled analgesia

A method of pain control in which the patient cooperates. An intravenous drip is set up and the patient has a small control unit with a button which, when pressed, inserts a small dose of a drug such as morphine, into the infusion fluid. Overdosage cannot occur. A disadvantage is the need to urinate at frequent intervals.

pa·tient-con·trolled an·al·ge·si·a

, patient-controlled anesthesia(PCA) (pā'shĕnt kŏn-trōld' an'ăl-jē'zē-ă, an'es-thē'zē-ă) Method for control of pain using a pump for constant intravenous or epidural infusion of a dilute narcotic solution that includes a mechanism for self-administration at predetermined intervals.