An exciting revolution in pediatric
pain control has evolved in
anesthesia during the past 2 decades. The creative use of systemic
analgesic techniques has dramatically improved the quality of
postoperative pain management. The postsurgical pediatric population is reaping the benefits of such advancements in
acute pain management, as there is an increasing use of
patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). The goal of PCA is to provide safe and effective
postoperative pain control by achieving a continuous level of
analgesia in the body, along with the opportunity for Nursbolus doses as requested by the patient. The aim of this
analgesic technique is optimal
pain relief and a high level of patient and parent satisfaction. This review of the literature addresses safety issues, indications,
contraindications, complications, and dosing regimens related to pediatric PCA. Recommendations for continuous pulse oximetry and sedation monitoring, along with individualized dosage requirements, are presented to decrease the incidence of complications. Overall, the literature shows that PCA provides adequate
pain control and high levels of satisfaction for the pediatric postsurgical population and their families.