Gordon S C, Gaines S K, Hauber R P
Northlake Regional Medical Center, Tucker, Georgia.
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1994 Feb;23(2):99-103. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.1994.tb01858.x.
To compare two methods of administering analgesia by the epidural route after cesarean sections.
Quasi-experimental.
The postpartum area of a large community hospital.
Fifty women undergoing planned cesarean sections with epidural anesthesia.
The control group received continuous epidural analgesia with nurse-administered boluses and the experimental group with self-administered boluses.
Pain control, side effects from medication, amount of medication required, postoperative activity levels, and patient satisfaction.
Subjects receiving continuous epidural analgesia with self-administered boluses of analgesic used significantly less fentanyl and fewer supplemental intravenous pain medications than subjects receiving continuous epidural analgesia with nurse-administered boluses of analgesic.
Subjects in self-administered group required less pain medication than subjects in nurse-administered group.
