How long can a patient be on a PCA?
The PCA is used for as long as it is practical and tolerated. At the time of transition to other routes of use (most commonly oral medications) patients should be re-assessed and needs for analgesics reviewed. The last 12- or 24- hour requirements are noted and equiv.
How is PCA morphine pump calculated?
Note: dosing and delay interval information will differ with other opioids. Start dosing: PCA demand dose = 1-3 mg morphine; Delay Interval = 8-10 min. Initial CI (if any) is dependent on the clinical situation. For instance, 1 mg/hour of IV morphine is approximately equivalent to 35 mg bid of oral morphine ER.
How often can PCA be used?
Therapy usually begins with about five sessions in one week, followed by three treatments per week. A normal course of treatment includes 16 to 20 treatments.
How often should a PCA be checked?
Monitoring the Effects of PCA At a minimum, the patient’s level of pain, alertness, vital signs, and rate and quality of respirations should be evaluated every four hours. The staff must be alert for signs of oversedation.
Why is morphine preferred PCA?
We conclude that morphine delivered by PCA provides better postoperative pain control with an acceptable side effects profile in the hepatic resection patients than fentanyl.
What is the function of the lockout period programmed on the PCA pump?
The lockout interval is a safety mechanism that limits the frequency of doses delivered to the patient. For maximum safety, it should be long enough to allow the patient to feel the full effect of one opioid dose before another dose can be delivered. However, if it is too long the effectiveness of PCA could be reduced.
How is morphine calculated?
Use the formula: Strength per Unit X (Number of Units/ Days Supply) X MME conversion factor = MME/Day.
What drug is used for PCA?
Your 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: Your healthcare provider will decide on a starting dose of the pain medicine.
Can you overdose on PCA pump?
Therefore it is highly unlikely that you overdose as a result of using the machine. To make the best use of PCA, it is advisable to press the button about five minutes before moving, such as sitting up in bed, getting out of bed, deep breathing or coughing.
How frequently should the patient-controlled analgesia PCA be assessed?
Monitoring the Effects of PCA At a minimum, the patient’s level of pain, alertness, vital signs, and rate and quality of respirations should be evaluated every four hours.