Overcoming Barriers to Pain Management in the ICU

A new article underscores the many complexities and challenges associated with managing pain in the critically ill patient. Although the complex conditions presented by the critically ill patient provide significant obstacles, the authors discuss additional barriers to optimal pain management, including outdated clinical practices and faulty systems. The authors also present a number of structured approaches that have been shown to be successful in improving pain treatment in the critically ill patient, as well as future directions for pain management in the ICU. The article is published in the June issue of CHEST, the peer reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.