Sedation in intensive care units

Abstract

In Intensive Care Unit (ICU) painful interventions such as mechanical ventilation, invasive arterial cannulation, central vein catheter insertion and haemodiafiltration may be necessary as life saving procedures. Also, continous noise of monitores, the sounds of ICU stuff and ressusitation may cause delirium and anxiety. Analgesic and sedative drugs may be needed for pain and anxiety relief. However, there is no yet an ideal analgesic and sedative drug. In current practice, pain, stress and anxiety relief as a commenly accepted treatment. It has been shown that this sedation satrategy shortens ICU stay and mechanical ventilation therapy duration. Conciouss sedation direct communication between the patient and the parents and the ICU stuff is aimed. To use the algoritm and established standarts is important for the safety of patients since they increase patient comfort, decrease duration of mechanical ventilation and shortnes ICU stay. It is important to adjust the sedation and analgesic therapy for each patient on daily basis. Also, adjusting sedation dept and monitore blood analgesic levels helps to achieve desired treatment goals.