Postoperative Pain Therapy With Hydromorphone TCI-PCA vs. Morphine PCA

Hydromorphone is given intravenously by TCI-PCA. The TCI-PCA system steer the hydromorphone infusion pump to achieve plasma and effect-site concentrations of hydromorphone in predefined increasing steps on patient request and in predefined decreasing steps on lack of patient request within predefined plasma and effect-site concentration range, lockout times and infusion speed.

Morphine is given intravenously by PCA. The PCA pump administers a predefined bolus dose on patient request considering the predefined lockout time and infusion speed.