IMPACTS OF SEDATION AND ANALGESIA ON THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS – ICU.

Abstract

Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are highly complex environments designed for the care of critically ill patients requiring continuous monitoring and advanced life support. In this context, sedation and analgesia are widely used to promote comfort, reduce pain, anxiety, and agitation, and to enable the safe performance of procedures. However, its inadequate management can compromise patient safety, being associated with delirium, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and increased length of stay. This study aimed to identify, in light of recent scientific evidence, the impacts of sedation and analgesia on the comfort and safety of critically ill patients in the ICU. This is an integrative literature review, with a qualitative approach and descriptive-analytical character, carried out in the PubMed, BVS, and SciELO databases, with support from Google Scholar. Studies published between 2021 and April 2026, in Portuguese and English, totaling 14 articles, were included. The results showed that pain in critically ill patients is frequent and underdiagnosed, and is associated with adverse outcomes. Strategies such as mild sedation and analgesia showed better clinical results, reducing complications and promoting recovery. Pharmacological and multidisciplinary interventions also contributed to the appropriate management of pain and greater patient safety. It is concluded that the adoption of evidence-based practices and care protocols is fundamental to improving the quality of care for critically ill patients.