Pain management within the palliative and end-of-life care experience in the ICU

Pain management within the palliative and end-of-life care experience in the ICU. Chest, May 2009, vol. 135(5), 1360-1369.

Mularski, R.A., et al.

http://www.chestjournal.org/content/135/5/1360.full.pdf+html

In the ICU where critically ill patients receive aggressive life-sustaining interventions, suffering is common and death can be expected in up to 20% of patients. High-quality pain management is a part of optimal therapy and requires knowledge and skill in pharmacologic, behavioral, social, and communication strategies grounded in the holistic palliative care approach. This contemporary review article focuses on pain management within comprehensive palliative and end-of-life care.