Self-administered versus nurse-administered epidural analgesia after cesarean section.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two methods of administering analgesia by the epidural route after cesarean sections.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental.


METHODS
The postpartum area of a large community hospital.


METHODS
Fifty women undergoing planned cesarean sections with epidural anesthesia.


METHODS
The control group received continuous epidural analgesia with nurse-administered boluses and the experimental group with self-administered boluses.


METHODS
Pain control, side effects from medication, amount of medication required, postoperative activity levels, and patient satisfaction.


RESULTS
Subjects receiving continuous epidural analgesia with self-administered boluses of analgesic used significantly less fentanyl and fewer supplemental intravenous pain medications than subjects receiving continuous epidural analgesia with nurse-administered boluses of analgesic.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjects in self-administered group required less pain medication than subjects in nurse-administered group.
Gordon
S C
SC
Northlake Regional Medical Center, Tucker, Georgia.
Gaines
S K
SK
Hauber
R P
RP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy
D005283:Fentanyl