Your doctor or nurse sets the pump to release the right dose of medicine. The pain medicine flows from the pump into the tubing that goes into your vein. When you feel your pain starting, you press a button that you can hold in your hand. After you press the button, pain medicine is released from the pump.

What is a PCA procedure?

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is a method of pain control that gives patients the power to control their pain. In PCA, a computerized pump called the patient-controlled analgesia pump, which contains a syringe of pain medication as prescribed by a doctor, is connected directly to a patient’s intravenous (IV) line.

How do you start a PCA?

Loading Dose: PCA should be initiated after an initial bolus dose of morphine 5 – 20 mg (2-3 mg every 5 minutes up to 20 mg) to attain adequate plasma morphine concentrations. Doses should be reduced in patients over 70 years, and in patients with severely compromised physical status.