PCA to Traditional Methods of Analgesic Administration

SECTION 4 Drugs Used to Treat Pain and Inflammation 

FIGURE 17-5 An example of an implantable, electronically controlled PCA pump. This pump is implanted surgically in the patient s abdomen and can be refilled periodically through a self-sealing septum. 

PCA techniques have been shown to have certain advantages over more traditional methods such as intermittent IM injection or continuous epidural infusion. One must also consider that PCA decreases the need for other health professionals (physicians, nurses, pharmacists) to be directly involved in 

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