This is a groundbreaking new book on the very latest system of postoperative pain control: PatientControlled Analgesia. This technique allows patients, within safety limits set by doctors and supervised by nurses, to get rapid relief by administering their required dosage of pain relieving drug themselves. Current research has shown that the use of PCA brings about a reduction in pain experienced and a shorter hospital stay. Patients also use significantly less analgesic medication than with conventional pain relieving methods. This is a wellresearched account of the physiological, psychological, and technical aspects of patient controlled analgesia, written by an anaesthetist and a nurse/psychologist, offering a comprehensive understanding of this new method of pain relief and how it can revolutionize postoperative care.