Patient-controlled analgesia in gynecologic oncology. A comparative analysis.

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) allows postoperative gynecologic oncology patients to self-administer intravenous analgesia but has not been well compared to standard intramuscular analgesia. Seventy patients undergoing laparotomy were treated with meperidine via PCA or intramuscular administration and evaluated 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. The 35 patients receiving PCA used statistically significantly less meperidine than did the controls at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. The pharmacy's cost of the drug was statistically significantly less for PCA patients. PCA meperidine was well tolerated, with minimal alterations in consciousness and infrequent nausea.