A patient who is in the acute phase of recovery from a burn injury has yet to experience adequate pain control. What pain management strategy is most likely to meet this patients needs?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The goal of treatment is to provide a long-acting analgesic that will provide even coverage for this longterm discomfort. It is helpful to use escalating doses when initiating the medication to reach the level of pain control that is acceptable to the patient. The use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) gives control to the patient and achieves this goal. Patients cannot normally achieve adequate pain control without the use of opioids, and parenteral administration is usually required.

A Patient Who Is in the Acute Phase of Recovery