Doctors are interested in knowing family member's concerns ahead of time. It's important for a doctor to know about a previous history of drug use or abuse. It's best to make this information available before the surgery.

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is not likely to cause problems with drug addiction. The unit is programmed to allow the patient small doses of a pain medication on a regular basis. This helps keep the pain from getting out of control. Many patients don't even need oral narcotics when using the PCA.

The units can come with a locking cover. This will prevent a patient from changing the program. If changes are needed, the patient will have to return to the doctor's office. The pump reports the total amount of drug used. It also keeps track of how often the patient pushes the button and how many times a dose is given.