Patient controlled epiduarls

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We are going to be starting PCEAs and are currently writing the policy. We have found standards that we must assess the status of the motor and sensory block but all sources are vague as to assessment intervals.

Anyone currently doing and how often are you assessing?

The proposal on our unit is hourly.

Thanks

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Is this for labor or C-section patients?

I worked at a hospital back in the 1990's that used PCEA for C-section moms after anesthesia became dissatisfied with all of the side-effects of Dura-Morph.

I'll PM you the name of the hospital if that would be helpful.

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This is for labor patients.

None of the published resources we found had assessment interval guidelines

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Yes we use epidural PCEA, explaining its use to the patients----- and the policy is to have continuous monitoring of the fetus and q15 minute vital signs during the duration of the epidural.

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