Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA): Pain Control in the First Twenty Four Hours after Spine Surgery

Abstract

Background. Patient-controlled analgesia is a method allowing a patient to self-administer pain medications by means of a computerized infusion pump. By pushing a demand button, the patient activates the system introducing specific doses of pain relieving medicine in the exact amount programmed by the caregiver.
Aim. To determine the efficacy of post-operative pain relief treatment with the usage of PCA-iv infusion pump, as well as to estimate pain levels in every two hours in the first twelve hours after spine surgery.
Material and methods. The survey was held in the 10th Military Research Hospital and Polyclinic in Bydgoszcz. From January to December 2010 a group of 40 spine surgery patients participated in the research. The methods comprised of authorial survey questionnaire, analysis of medical documentation, as well as pain intensity estimation measured with VAS scale every two hours in the first twelve hours after spine surgery.
Results. The analysis shows that pain was gradually alleviated from the moment the IV-PCA pump was applied.
Conclusions. PCA-iv offers high analgesic efficacy, faster alleviation of post-operative pain and helps to create a sense of safety and comfort after the surgery. (PNN 2013;2(2):57-62)