Pain management.

Abstract

Postoperative pain management in the critically ill patient is a challenge for nurses. Knowing the basis of pain transmission and mechanisms of action of interventions can assist the critical care nurse in making clinical decisions regarding pain control for individual patients. There are a number of modalities available to treat postoperative pain including both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Techniques such as PCA not only can provide good analgesia, but allow the critically ill patient at least one aspect of control in the otherwise highly controlled environment of the critical care unit. Epidural or intrathecal analgesia, using either opioids or LAAs alone or in combination, provides excellent analgesic effect (with minimal side effects) and may improve patient outcomes. Nonpharmacologic techniques, unfortunately, are commonly overlooked as adjuncts to traditional analgesia routines because of the nature of the illness in the critically ill patient. Nonpharmacologic techniques of pain management have a place in the care of the critically ill when applied based on the assessment of an individual patient's needs and abilities to participate in his or her care. Ensuring optimal patient comfort can benefit critically ill patients and improve clinical outcomes.