Self-administered versus nurse-administered epidural analgesia after cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE

To compare two methods of administering analgesia by the epidural route after cesarean sections.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental.

SETTING

The postpartum area of a large community hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty women undergoing planned cesarean sections with epidural anesthesia.

INTERVENTIONS

The control group received continuous epidural analgesia with nurse-administered boluses and the experimental group with self-administered boluses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pain control, side effects from medication, amount of medication required, postoperative activity levels, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects in self-administered group required less pain medication than subjects in nurse-administered group.