PCEA
Medical abbreviation · Medication Route
| Stands for | Patient-controlled epidural analgesia |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
PCEA stands for Patient-controlled epidural analgesia, a medication route abbreviation.
Variation of PCA in which the patient triggers extra doses through an epidural catheter, usually a dilute local anesthetic such as bupivacaine or ropivacaine combined with fentanyl. It is widely used for labor pain and after major abdominal or chest surgery.
Example: Labor PCEA: bupivacaine 0.0625% with fentanyl 2 mcg/mL, 8 mL/h, 8 mL bolus q15min.
Usage notes
Programmed intermittent epidural boluses combined with PCEA have largely replaced continuous infusions in many labor units. Epidural tubing is usually yellow-striped and labeled "epidural" to prevent accidental IV connection, a known cause of serious harm; newer NRFit connectors are designed to be incompatible with IV Luer fittings.
Related abbreviations
More medication route abbreviations
- OD – Oculus dexter (right eye)
- OG – Orogastric
- ophth – Ophthalmic
- OS – Oculus sinister (left eye)
- OU – Oculus uterque (each eye, both eyes)
- PCA – Patient-controlled analgesia
- PO – Per os (by mouth, orally)
- PR – Per rectum (rectally)
- PV – Per vaginam (vaginally)
- SC – Subcutaneous
- SL – Sublingual
- SQ – Subcutaneous
See all 41 medication route abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.