Final answer:
PCA delivery has three main modes: continuous, providing a constant dosage; demand, allowing the patient to request medication; and bolus, offering a larger, single dose at intervals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three modes of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) delivery are continuous mode, demand mode, and bolus mode.
- Continuous mode provides a steady and constant infusion of pain medication.
- In demand mode, the patient receives medication when they request it by pressing a button.
- Bolus mode delivers a larger dose of medication at one time, often initiated by the patient or programmed to provide additional pain control at scheduled intervals.
These modes ensure that patients have effective and personalized pain management after procedures such as surgery. Intermittent and programmed modes are sometimes considered variations or specific settings within these primary modes, but they are not typically categorized as standalone PCA delivery modes.