The safety and efficacy of a disposable, nonelectronic,
patient-controlled-analgesia (PCA) device for alleviating
postoperative pain were evaluated. Patients who were to undergo abdominal
surgical procedures under
general anesthesia were instructed in the use of the Travenol
Infusor with Patient Control Module. Patients used the PCA device upon emerging from
anesthesia in the recovery room. The PCA device delivered a 1-mg i.v. injection of
morphine sulfate upon patient demand, with a relative delay of six minutes between allowable administrations. Nursing staff evaluated
pain and sedation every four hours using a five-point scale. In the 50 patients evaluated, the highest
analgesic use occurred during the first four to eight postoperative hours. After the immediate postoperative period, patients experienced either mild or no
pain during approximately 90% of the evaluation periods. No patient suffered
respiratory depression during self-dosing. Results of a poststudy self-assessment questionnaire showed that 90% of the patients reported experiencing mild to moderate
pain overall, and 78% reported only mild discomfort throughout the postoperative period. Ninety-two percent of the patients strongly preferred PCA
therapy over
intramuscular injections. The Travenol
Infusor with Patient Control Module represents a safe and effective device for PCA
therapy of
postoperative pain.