Objective: To review the current strategies for use of sedatives and analgesics in emergency rooms and intensive care units.
Source of data: Original data from our emergency rooms and intensive care units; Medline literature review focused on sedatives and analgesic drugs; textbooks.
Summary of the findings: Despite the advances in understanding pain in children, in many critical care units the misguided treatment of pain and anxiety still results in significant morbidity. Difficulties in communication, invasive procedures and the belief that children do not have sufficient neurologic development to process noxious sensations are still a challenge in intensive care units.
Conclusions: The last decade was marked by significant advances in understanding pediatric pain. Treating intensive care unit-related pain and anxiety has clear benefits which may influence the course of disease.