2016, Cilt 3, Sayı 3, Sayfa(lar) 056-069
Patient-Controlled Analgesia in Surgical Patient
Dilek ÇİLİNGİR1, Ceyda UZUN ŞAHİN2
1Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Hemşirelik Bölümü Cerrahi Hastalıkları Hemşireliği Anabilim Dalı, Trabzon, Türkiye
2Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu, Rize, Türkiye
Keywords: Nursing, pain management, patient-controlled analgesia, surgery patient

Today, postoperative pain is one of the most common problems experienced by the patient, despite developments related to the surgical treatment methods. Pain that can not be controlled causes many problems that prolonge the healing process and the length of hospital stay in postoperative period. Postoperative pain management aims to minimize or prevent discomfort of the patient, to protect from side effects, to reduce the length of hospital stay and to prevent the recurrence of complaints regarding pain. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods are used in postoperative pain management. Patient-controlled analgesia is frequently preferred because of higher patient satisfaction, less sedation, less postoperative complications and positive effects on the healing process of the patients. Patient-controlled analgesia is based on the fundemantal considering the patient responsible for self pain control. Patient-controlled analgesia includes intermittent intravenous opioid administration depending on the patient's request. Effective use of patient-controlled analgesia method requires cooperation of the healthcare team and the patient. The surgical nurse have important roles regarding use of this device, patient education, patient monitoring and evaluation of treatment efficacy.