Patient-controlled versus nurse-controlled post-operative analgesia after caesarean section

The aim of this study was to compare the differences in the quality of analgesia by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and nurse-controlled analgesia (NCA) for post-caesarean section analgesia.

350 women who undertake elective cesarean section were assigned to the three groups. Group I (n=200), IV-PCA morphine; group II (n=100), IV-PCA methadone; group III (n=50) NCA morphine. Data collected during the 24 h observation period included visual analog scale (VAS) pain and patient satisfaction scores, the incidence of nausea and vomiting, severe sedation and pruritis.

VAS pain scores for each time at which it was evaluated were higher for NCA group than other groups. Also patient satisfaction was significantly increased in the IV-PCA Group as compared with group III. The prevalence of pruritis was higher for NCA group than other groups.

In post caesarean section, PCA morphine or methadone improves 24-h VAS compared with NCA.