PCA - PRESCRIBING ANALGESIA FOR HOME MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE PAIN

Home-based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) provides select patients with the ability to deliver analgesia based on their own perception o f need. PCA allows the patient with severe pain (eg, from cancer) to r emain in the home when treatment by oral or rectal routes is no longer appropriate. Patient selection criteria include intact cognition and proper supervision from a family member or health professional. The ph ysician remains responsible for determining the appropriate drug, bolu s dose, background infusion rate, and lockout interval. Many of the gu idelines that govern these parameters are similar to those that underl ie traditional oral therapy.