All:
The
San Diego Patient Safety Task Force on PCA
has developed Guidelines. These guidelines have been formulated to try
to prevent
post
operative deaths secondary to respiratory depression from the use of PCA
devices. Usually the surgeon writes for PCA orders. However we may at
times be asked to write for a PCA and often order PCA after C-section if
Intrathecal MS does not adequately control pain. Unfortunately there
have been a number of deaths and lawsuits relating to PCA orders written
by
anesthesiologists in South Carolina and other states. Usually the
surgeon
is dropped from such cases and the anesthesiologist is left
standing.
Vince
Degenhart, M.D. |