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Pain measurement techniques: spotlight on mechanically ventilated patients
Isabela Freire Azevedo-Santos1, Josimari Melo DeSantana1
1Neuroscience Research Laboratory (LAPENE), Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Program of Health Science, Graduate Program of Physiological Science, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, desantana@pq.cnpq.br.
Journal of Pain Research
|December 13, 2018
Summary
Objective pain measurement in intensive care units (ICUs) is crucial for noncommunicative patients. Behavioral scales are the gold standard for assessing pain in mechanically ventilated adults, improving pain management.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pain Management
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Procedural pain is a significant challenge in intensive care units (ICUs).
- Pain assessment is increasingly integrated into routine ICU care.
- Studies highlight the importance of measuring pain in critically ill patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence-based pain measurement techniques for adult patients on mechanical ventilation.
- To consolidate existing knowledge on pain assessment in this specific patient population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar.
- Keywords included "pain", "pain measurement", "intensive care units", and "respiration, artificial".
- Analysis focused on studies describing pain assessment in mechanically ventilated patients.
Main Results:
- Objective pain assessment methods are available for mechanically ventilated adults.
- Behavioral scales are the most common method for noncommunicative patients.
- Physiological indicators like vital signs, pupillometry, bispectral index, and skin conductance were identified, though vital sign reliability was questioned.
Conclusions:
- Objective measures, particularly behavioral scales, are the gold standard for quantifying pain in noncommunicative ICU patients.
- This review enhances professional understanding of ICU pain measurement.
- Effective pain management relies on accurate pain assessment and its consequences.
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