Relief of pain in intensive care patients

Many critically ill patients suffer pain which can produce by itself undesirable effects. Consequently, pain must be carefully prevented, or at least, treated early and effectively. Basal analgesia can be provided by repeated intramuscular administration of narcotics, or rather by continuous intravenous infusion of morphine or meperidine or by a regional anesthetic procedure such as an epidural block. Computer-assisted intravenous "on demand" analgesia with Fentanyl can also be used. When pain coverage is required during transient events such as active physiotherapy or dressing changes, additional intravenous of a narcotic (1-2 mg morphine e.g.) or inhalation of nitrous oxide with oxygen are usually effective.