Pain Management in the Critically Ill (Critical ILLNESS‪)‬

Introduction Managing pain in the critically ill patient may present particular challenges for recovery and intensive care nursing and medical staff, as the patient may experience pain from many sources. Not only do these patients experience pain from trauma or surgery, they may also undergo invasive procedures. These procedures vary according to the type of recovery or intensive care unit but may include the insertion of endotracheal tubes, invasive monitoring lines, central venous catheters, chest drains, nephrostomy tubes and dialysis catheters. Procedural pain may also be experienced from regular suctioning via the endotracheal tube, from dressing changes and from turning and moving such as when the patient is washed, repositioned in bed, X-rays are carried out or physiotherapy is performed (Puntillo et al 2001).