Patient-controlled analgesia remains one of the most effective techniques of relieving acute (postoperative) pain. In 1996, 95 papers from studies of patient-controlled analgesia were published. New innovative patient-controlled analgesia applications are rare: non-invasive techniques including oral and transnasal routes are the most interesting at the moment. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia and patient-controlled sedation have now proven their position in routine clinical practice. Patients' acceptance is high for self-administration and side effects are usually only minor. Patient-controlled analgesia was often used in scientific studies, providing information on the efficacy of other analgesic techniques, drugs and drug combinations.