Which device provides a more effective method of pain control than periodic injections of narcotics?

• A. Infusion Pump
• B. Syringe Pump
• C. PCA Pump
• D. Feeding Pump

Answer: (C)

Pain control improves when patients can self-administer analgesia on demand rather than waiting for scheduled injections. A PCA pump is designed for this: it allows the patient to press a button to deliver a preset dose of analgesic, within safety limits, and can combine a continuous baseline with optional bolus doses. This setup keeps drug levels steadier, provides faster relief during spikes of pain, and often reduces overall narcotic use because doses are given as needed and within safety parameters. The other devices don’t offer this on-demand, patient-initiated control: a general infusion pump lacks the built-in patient bolus feature, a syringe pump isn’t typically configured for patient-controlled dosing, and a feeding pump is unrelated to analgesia.