title: An investigation of the current literature on the effectiveness of patient-controlled analgesia methods.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to determine, through current research in the literature, if a background basal infusion should routinely be used to improve the efficacy of traditional-demand patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and would the safety of the PCA technique be maintained with the addition of a continuous infusion. Of the nine studies investigating PCA with and without continuous infusion, six found no improvement in pain control with the addition of a continuous infusion. The patients receiving continuous infusion did not make fewer demands than the control group, nor did they report lower pain scores. The addition of a continuous background infusion to PCA diminishes the inherent safety of the PCA modality of pain management. Many studies reported an increased incidence of side effects with the addition of a continuous infusion. This modality of PCA should be reserved for use in patients in whom traditional-demand PCA does not satisfy analgesic requirements.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cokefair
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gries
mesh_terms: D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome