Intervención interdisciplinaria del paciente con dolor en unidades de cuidado intensivo (UCI)

Pain is a common condition in patients who are in intensive care units (ICU), precipitated and maintained by biological, psychological and social stimuli. Therefore, the management of patients in ICU with pain, requires an interdisciplinary approach to care which transcends the medical scope. The aims of this review wereto present the strategies for assessment and management of pain in ICU patients, and to propose an interdisciplinary approach to deliver a more effective management in these units. The literature shows that the methods for pain assessment are diverse and that specific qualitative and quantitative measurements are used according to the patient’s state of consciousness. The management of pain in the ICU is primarily determined by nursing and medical professionals despite the patients’ psychological needs. Based on the evidence that pain management is multidisciplinary, it is proposed an interdisciplinary intervention which include the family.