Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia
Also written as: PCEA — Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia
Self-administered epidural pain relief system allowing parturients to deliver additional analgesic doses as needed during labor.
Full Definition
A sophisticated pain management technique that allows laboring women to self-administer supplemental doses of epidural analgesic medication through a programmable pump system. The system typically delivers a continuous background infusion of local anesthetic and opioid combination, with patient-activated bolus doses available on demand within predetermined safety limits. This approach provides superior maternal satisfaction by giving patients control over their pain management while maintaining safety through built-in lockout intervals and maximum dose limits. The technique requires careful programming of basal rates, bolus volumes, lockout intervals, and hourly limits based on individual patient needs and anesthetic protocols.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as PCEA in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "Patient-controlled epidural analgesia was initiated with a basal rate of 8 mL/hr and 4 mL boluses." — Labor analgesia record
- "The PCEA pump settings were adjusted due to breakthrough pain during active labor." — Anesthetic note