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Updated: May 18, 2026
06:04
Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
Regional analgesia in intensive care
Luísa Guedes1, Helena Rebelo, Raquel Oliveira
1Anesthesiology Department, Hospital de São João, Entidade Pública Empresarial, Porto, Portugal. luisa_ferraz@hotmail.com
Revista Brasileira De Anestesiologia
|September 25, 2012
Summary
Regional analgesia offers benefits for critically ill patients by reducing pain and opioid side effects. However, contraindications like coagulopathy and hemodynamic instability limit its application in intensive care units.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Pain management
- Regional anesthesia
Background:
- Regional analgesia is crucial for multimodal pain management in critically ill patients.
- It minimizes patient discomfort, physiological, and psychological stress.
- Lower doses of systemic opioids reduce side effects like withdrawal syndrome and gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advantages and limitations of regional analgesia in intensive care.
- To describe commonly used regional techniques and their applicability.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of regional analgesia in intensive care settings.
- Focus on benefits, drawbacks, and practical application of techniques.
Main Results:
- Regional analgesia can significantly reduce patient discomfort and opioid-related adverse effects.
- Contraindications such as coagulopathy, hemodynamic instability, and neurological assessment challenges limit its use.
- Common techniques and their specific applicability in intensive care units were detailed.
Conclusions:
- Regional analgesia is a valuable tool in critical care pain management.
- Careful patient selection is essential due to potential contraindications.
- Understanding technique applicability is key for successful implementation.
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