Patient Library

Patient Controlled Analgesia

Epidural analgesia delivers anesthetic medication to nerves within the epidural space in the vertebra. A physician places a small tube or catheter so medication can be administered throughout surgery and beyond for comfort. Frequently the patient can be given control over the dosing mechanism. This technique is called patient-controlled epidural analgesia, or PCEA. This type of pain control is particularly well suited for chest, abdominal or pelvic surgeries, and childbirth.