Pain and Agitation Management in Critically Ill Patients

The Nursing Clinics of North America
Julie Stephens, Michael Wright

Abstract

Pain and agitation may be difficult to assess in a critically ill patient. Pain is best assessed by self-reporting pain scales; but in patients who are unable to communicate, behavioral pain scales seem to have benefit. Patients' sedation level should be assessed each shift and preferably by a validated ICU tool, such as the RASS or SAS scale. Pain is most appropriately treated with the use of opiates, and careful consideration should be given to the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of various analgesics to determine the optimal agent for each individual patient. Sedation levels should preferably remain light or with the use of a daily awakening trial. Preferred treatment of agitation is analgosedation with the addition of nonbenzodiazepine sedatives if necessary. There are risks associated with each agent used in the treatment of pain and agitation, and it is important to monitor patients for effectiveness, signs of toxicity, and adverse drug reactions.

References

Jan 22, 2002·Critical Care Medicine·J F PayenC Jacquot
Feb 6, 2002·American Journal of Health-system Pharmacy : AJHP : Official Journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists·UNKNOWN American College of Critical Care Medicine of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, American Society of Health-System Pharm
Oct 4, 2005·Intensive & Critical Care Nursing : the Official Journal of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses·Jeanne YoungThérèse Shaw
Oct 26, 2005·Anesthesia and Analgesia·Younès AïssaouiRedouane Abouqal
Apr 21, 2006·Critical Care Medicine·Gerald ChanquesJean-Jacques Eledjam
Apr 26, 2006·The American Journal of Emergency Medicine·Michael A FrakesSuzanne K Wedel
Dec 13, 2007·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Pratik P PandharipandeE Wesley Ely
Feb 4, 2009·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Richard R RikerUNKNOWN SEDCOM (Safety and Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine Compared With Midazolam) Study Group
Apr 13, 2012·The Annals of Pharmacotherapy·Sandeep DevabhakthuniSandra L Kane-Gill
Oct 4, 2013·The New England Journal of Medicine·P P PandharipandeUNKNOWN BRAIN-ICU Study Investigators

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Ataxia

Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements including loss of coordination, balance, and speech. Discover the latest research on ataxia here.

Anxiety Disorders

Discover the latest research on anxiety disorders including agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder here.

Ataxias (MDS)

Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements including loss of coordination, balance, and speech. Discover the latest research on ataxia here.

Ataxias

Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements including loss of coordination, balance, and speech. Discover the latest research on different types of ataxias here.

Related Papers

Critical Care and Resuscitation : Journal of the Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine
G M Shaw, J G Chase
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
Sandeep DevabhakthuniSandra L Kane-Gill
Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Erin M DeBiasiMargaret Pisani
American Journal of Critical Care : an Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Mark O'ConnorElizabeth Manias
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved