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Analgesia and Sedation

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Surgical Intensive Care Medicine

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Abstract

Sedative hypnotic and analgesic agents are widely used in critical care units. In a survey of 164 medical intensive care units (ICUs) (1), virtually all provided sedative medications to patients receiving mechanical ventilation. In 36% of these units, sedation was administered routinely to more than 70% of patients. The most frequently used agents were morphine sulfate, lorazepam, and diazepam, and the most common indications were “to improve oxygenation or to reduce peak airway pressure” and “to treat anxiety.”

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  1. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Jean Kwo M.D.

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Department of Surgical Critical Care, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA

    John Merritt O’Donnell M.D. (Director, Chairman) (Director, Chairman)

  2. Department of Surgical Critical Care, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA

    Flávio Eduardo Nácul M.D. (Senior Fellow) (Senior Fellow)

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Kwo, J. (2001). Analgesia and Sedation. In: O’Donnell, J.M., Nácul, F.E. (eds) Surgical Intensive Care Medicine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6645-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6645-5_9

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