PCA managing inadequate pain relief of patient controlled analgesia (adult)
If the patient's pain score is over 4 follow below:
Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for June 2024.
Hopefully you all received the notification on Friday 28th June about the worldwide security vulnerability relating to use of code from the Polyfill.io code library – typically used to enable use of functionality in older browsers and operating systems. This vulnerability has now been addressed within RDS. Thanks to Tactuum for their prompt action on this.
This incident served as a useful reminder about the importance of making sure all devices and desktop/laptop computers have up to date anti-malware installed.
The most recent information is that final fixes and developments will take place during July, with a view to user testing taking place in August 2024.
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The Scottish Palliative Care Group is carrying out a value and impact survey of the national Palliative Care Guidelines toolkit on RDS. We would appreciate your help in circulating this survey, available at https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/scottish-palliative-care-guidelines/evaluation-survey/ /
The Palliative Care Guidelines toolkit is using an adapted version of a generic impact evaluation form which the RDS team now encourages all toolkit owners to apply 6-12 months after launch of their toolkit. Please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot if you would like to find out more.
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HIS is working with the Scottish Library and Information Council and the ALLIANCE to implement the second phase of the Collective Force for Health and Wellbeing Action Plan. This plan aims to strengthen the role of public, health and school libraries in empowering people to use digital tools and health information for self-management and choices about health and wellbeing. A key element of this new phase is supporting public libraries to promote the RDS citizen-facing apps for health and wellbeing.
We held a webinar on 28th June about the implementation challenge for health and wellbeing apps for citizens. This included an overview of the evidence base around implementation, the critical importance of health literacy skills, and the early findings from tests of change of implementing the Being a partner in my care app. Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like a copy of the slides or access to the recording of this webinar (NHS staff only.)
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With kind regards
Right Decision Service team
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Please note this guidance is for use in in-patients and is not designed for managing patients with chronic pain.
Patients with PCA must be nursed on a ward recognised by the Acute Pain Team and Department of Anaesthetics.
Within Raigmore Patient Controlled Analgesia may be used in:
A registered nurse caring for a patient with PCA should have attended the acute pain study and declare her/himself competent in the management of the PCA.
All PCA Infusion must be delivered via the Agilia PCA pump
Hospital SOPs on Preparation and Administration of Controlled Drugs (see resources) must always be adhered to.
The surgical medical staff or nurse practitioner should be called in the first instance for all routine surgical problems including:
If further advice is required, please contact the Acute Pain Nurse (bleep 1003) and if not available, the ITU anaesthetist.
All patients receiving PCA must have oxygen 4L/min by facemask or 2L/min via nasal cannula, for 24 hours postoperatively and then overnight until PCA is discontinued, unless directed to do so otherwise by an Anaesthetist.
NO OTHER OPIOIDS are to be administered to the patient whilst PCA is in use (oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or topical) unless directed to do so by an Anaesthetist or Acute Pain Nurse.
Ensure Naloxone 400 microgram injection is available on the ward.
PCA keys to be kept in the Controlled Drugs cupboard.
The standard prescription is Protocol A
The prescriber must complete a PCA chart, including the following details :
If a ward doctor or non-medical prescriber wishes to prescribe an alternative dose, discussion should first take place with the Acute Pain Nurse or an Anaesthetist.
Background infusions should only be used in patients who have been on long term opioids and must only be initiated by an Anaesthetist or Acute Pain Nurse.
The Prescription should be prescribed in the regular or 'As required' section of the Drug Kardex and affix a “PCA/Epidural Opioid in Progress” onto the Kardex.
Alternatives to Morphine may be used if required, please contact Acute Pain Nurse or ITU anaesthetist.
Anti-emetics must be prescribed on the Drug Kardex if patient is to have PCA, see TAM postoperative nausea and vomiting guidelines.
Preparation of each syringe must be witnessed by a trained nurse or doctor, in accordance with Hospital SOPs on Preparation and Administration of Controlled Drugs (see resources).
Change of syringe
Each change of syringe must be witnessed by a trained nurse or doctor who has received PCA training. Follow the Hospital SOPs on Preparation and Administration of Controlled Drugs (see resources).
Changing PCA extension sets
Patients with PCA need regular observations of pain, nausea, sedation and respiratory rate, in addition to the conventional postoperative recording.
Monitoring PCA Infusions
1. Pain score must be recorded on the observation chart
2. Sedation scores and respiration rate must be recorded on the observation chart
3. Nausea score must be recorded on the observation chart
NSAIDs and paracetamol help to minimise opioid side-effects by reducing the total dose of opioid required and should be prescribed regularly not PRN.
Moderate respiratory depression (respiratory rate less then 9 breaths per minute AND sedation score of 1 or 2)
Severe respiratory depression (respiratory rate less then 7 breaths per minute OR sedation score of 3.)
CALL FOR HELP, INITIATE CPR PROCEDURES, IF THE PATIENT IS APNOEIC, CALL 2222
Patient Controlled Analgesia should be discontinued when the patient no longer requires it, for example.
Note: Changing from PCA to subcutaneous injections is not acceptable when an oral route has been established. This may only be acceptable when intravenous access is difficult.
If a pump is broken or damaged in any way, please send to Medical Physics with a description of the fault.