Purpose of review: Sedation and analgesia are important means of providing care for the critically ill patient.
Recent findings: It is now clear that posttraumatic stress disorders resulting from an intensive care unit stay may be prevented by the right level of sedation. New drug developments but also recent findings in new ventilation strategies allow for a sedation management that is better tailored to an individual's need. Most importantly, regular definition of the appropriate level of sedation and analgesia as well as monitoring of the desired level will help to avoid over- and undersedation and may ultimately improve the outcome of the patient and reduce costs.
Summary: Sedation and analgesia are now regarded as an integral part of treatment on the intensive care unit instead of being an unpleasant but necessary and minor issue. The importance of monitoring the level of sedation and analgesia has only recently been realized. It remains to be shown that new management strategies including an evaluation of the patient, planned interventions and the choice of drugs will further improve the care for the critically ill.