title: Patient-controlled analgesic infusion pumps. Making a painless purchase.
abstract: Patient-controlled analgesic infusion pumps give patients the ability to self-administer pain-relieving medication as needed within the limits set by a physician. The most significant risk associated with these pumps is the possibility of oversedation, potentially leading to life-threatening narcotic-induced respiratory depression. We examine nine pumps, basing our ratings on safety and ease of use.
mesh_terms: D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D061214:Patient Safety