SEDATION AND ANALGESIA INTERVENTIONS IN RECOVERY OF PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Sedation and analgesia management in intensive care units (ICUs) is crucial for the recovery of critically ill patients, influencing factors such as duration of mechanical ventilation, incidence of delirium, and long-term outcomes. This integrative review sought to synthesize the evidence on the impact of sedation and analgesia interventions on clinical outcomes of ICU patients, analyzing studies published between 2010 and 2023 in the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Twenty-five studies that explored different sedation strategies, such as light versus deep sedation and the use of daily interruptions, as well as multimodal analgesia approaches, were included. The results indicated that light sedation protocols, combined with adequate analgesia, are associated with better outcomes, such as reduced incidence of delirium, shorter hospital stay, and lower mortality rates. In addition, the use of scales to assess pain and delirium was highlighted as essential for dose adjustment and prevention of complications. It is concluded that personalized sedation and analgesia interventions, with regular monitoring, can optimize the recovery of critically ill patients, contributing to an evidence-based and patient-centered practice.