Managing Chronic Pain in Ventilated Critical Care Patients

Abstract

Pain experienced by mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs) is often overlooked, but it is a significant issue. With over 5 million annual ICU admissions in the United States, the prevalence of pain during hospitalization and its aftermath is a pressing concern. Chronic pain in ICU survivors has been linked to post-traumatic stress disorder, poor quality of life, and long-term impairments known as postintensive care syndrome. Barriers to effective pain management include psychological factors, sedation restrictions, and inadequate use of valid assessment tools.

Keywords: Chronic pain; ICU patients; Mechanically ventilated; Multimodal approaches; Nurse; Pain; Pain assessment; Pain management.