Sedation and Analgesia
In mechanically ventilated patients, it is not uncommon for their level of consciousness to be used as a surrogate for their level of pain. This is a false assumption that can negatively impact patient outcomes and emphasizes the importance of understanding two fundamentally important principles that affect patient outcomes in the ICU, Sedation & Analgesia. Sedation takes into consideration the nature of the ICU environment; one that is plentiful of strange and loud noises, machines and constant activity which may be perceived as hostile for the critically ill patient. Introducing an amnestic element to strategically reduce awareness to the surrounding environment and external stimuli is often necessary to prevent progression to anxiety, agitation and delirium. Analgesia takes into consideration the daily needs of critically ill patients who routinely undergo invasive medical procedures, mechanically ventilation and monitoring, which combined with their presenting illnesses often introduce significant pain and discomfort. Mitigating these unwanted sensations are necessary to prevent their progression to anxiety, agitation and delirium. It is important to recognize Sedation and Analgesia as two distinct components, each with their own unique methods of assessment and dedicated pharmacological agents to target patient-specific clinical endpoints. Certain agents often offer a degree of overlap between the two (i.e. Remifentanil); however, addressing one component may not necessarily address the other. By: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdtO3SJuXwi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
