Patient-controlled analgesia in patients with advanced cancer. Should patients be in control?

Rony Dev, Egidio Del Fabbro, Eduardo Bruera

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been incorporated into the management of chronic pain in cancer patients despite limited evidence of safety and efficacy. Potential benefits of PCA include decreased delay in the administration of opioids from the time requested, rapidity and ease of dose titration, and adaptability to the variable analgesic dosing needs, as well as diurnal changes in patients. PCA may be beneficial for the initial titration of opioids but has the potential to either induce or exacerbate delirium in cancer patients. Clinicians need to closely monitor for symptoms of delirium in advanced cancer patients. The following case presentation highlights the complication of delirium in a cancer patient who was prescribed PCA. Patients with advanced cancer are at increased risk for delirium, which is often difficult to predict.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)296-300
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume42
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Pain management
  • delirium
  • patient-controlled analgesia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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