BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients present pain. The administration of analgesics and sedatives is crucial for patient comfort and to reduce stress, as well as to prevent delay in recovery and ventilator weaning. The objective of the present study was to conduct a review on analgesia and sedation in the ICU. CONTENT: The present study reviewed the causes of pain, the methods used to evaluate the intensity of pain and sedation and the conducts employed in pain treatment and sedation. Drug selection is important in order to prevent excessive sedation, by performing analgesia before the sedation. CONCLUSIONS: The most commonly employed drugs are morphine, fentanyl, midazolam and propofol. Other medications are less frequently used.
ANALGESIA; SEDATION; INTENSIVE THERAPY
