Section 3 • Programming Instructions
28
3.2.1
PCA Mode
PCA mode allows for bolus-only, basal-only or bolus with basal flow rates.
3.2.1.1
PCA Mode Program Parameters and Definitions
•
The basal flow rate is the continuous flow rate. It occurs when the pump
is not delivering a bolus in PCA mode. The basal flow rate is adjustable
and has units of milliliters per hour (ml/hr).
• A bolus is a volume of medication infused over a relatively short period
of time.
16
The bolus is infused at the bolus flow rate. A bolus is delivered
when a patient requests it by pushing the BOLUS button or the optional
remote BOLUS switch. A bolus is sometime referred to as a PCA bolus.
The bolus has units of milliliters (ml).
•
Bolus/dose flow rate is the flow rate at which a bolus or dose is
delivered. It is a higher flow rate than the basal flow rate. In the ambIT
®
PIB
v1.5
pumps, the bolus flow rate varies from 210 ml/hr to 125 ml/
hr, depending on the energy left in the battery. Flow rate accuracy is
not affected by the bolus flow rate. See Section 1.4.1 for an explanation
of how the bolus flow rate changes. The bolus/dose flow rate is not
adjustable.
• The lockout time is the time between the end of one bolus or dose and
the start of the next bolus or dose. The lockout time has units of hours
and minutes (hh:mm).
• PCA is an acronym for patient-controlled analgesia. If a pump is in PCA
mode and the patient has been prescribed a bolus volume, the PCA
mode allows for the user to periodically request a bolus of medication. If
the infusion is into the epidural space the PCA is referred to as patient-
controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA).
•
The volume to be infused is the total amount of fluid in the solution
container or reservoir to be infused. The volume to be infused has units
of milliliters (ml).
NOTE:
When programming in PCA mode, if the tens and/or ones digits are already
set to the desired setting, press the RUN/ PAUSE button until a beep is heard
to accept the setting and move on to the next step. This option is not available
when a parameter is programmed to its maximum value.
See Section 1.4.1 for an explanation of the patterns of flow available in PCA mode; specifically,
bolus-only, basal-only, and bolus with basal flow rates (Figures 1-1 through 1-3).
16
The bolus is delivered at a higher flow rate than the basal rate; therefore, for a given volume, the bolus is delivered faster.
