Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of the use of Patient Controlled Analgesia include the lack of waiting time for patients requiring pain medication before a caregiver can increase the dosage of medication. In this way, the patient spends less time in pain and as a corollary to this, patients tend to use less medication than in cases in which medication is given according to a set schedule. Disadvantages include the possibility that the button can accidentally pressed, delivering an unneeded increase in the dosage of the medication. Many newer systems have mechanisms to prevent this. Also, if a PCA device is not programed properly for a patient it can result in an under-dose or overdose in a medicine. The system may also be inappropriate for certain individuals, for example patients who present with learning difficulties or confused patients. Patients with poor manual dexterity may be unable to press the buttons as would those who are critically ill. Furthermore, PCA may not be appropriate for younger patients.
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