DICP : the annals of pharmacotherapy
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Because of a significant increase in the number of patients receiving patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) therapy at our institution, we conducted a review of PCA use. Our objectives were to determine if a PCA recording document (monitoring form) could be used to identify potential problems associated with PCA therapy and to identify measures that could be taken to improve analgesic therapy with this method of administration. The PCA recording document for each patient was reviewed retrospectively to identify patients suspected of having problems with the therapy. ⋯ Nausea and vomiting were the most prevalent adverse reactions. Our results indicate that PCA therapy is discontinued in many patients because of inadequate pain relief and suspected narcotic-induced nausea and vomiting. To improve analgesic therapy, clinicians should be reeducated regarding ways to optimize analgesic therapy, and a prospective PCA monitoring service should be considered.