Prevalence of pain in patients hospitalized at the ICU with endotracheal intubation and sedation, measured with COMFORT scale.

Abstract

Introduction: Pain is common in hospitalized patients in intensive care condition, however, is underdiagnosed in patients who are unable to express this condition. Multiple scales have been validated worldwide to determine the level of pain in these patients; however there are a few trained personnel to apply them as well as lack of information of prevalence of pain in ICU. Objectives: To determine prevalence of pain in hospitalized patients at the metabolic intensive care unit, with oral intubation and under sedation. Methods: Cohort study, descriptive, observational and prospective. Including all patients hospitalized in UCIM with oral intubation and sedation, fulfilling inclusion criteria. Results: A total of 36 patients, 77.7% were male. Age ranged between 18 and 71years old with 51 and standard deviation of 14.05. 86% were admitted for surgical pathology and 75% were with analgesic combination therapy. Conclusion: Prevalence of pain in our intubated patients under intravenous sedation is equal to that reported in the literature, with level of sedation as a main factor associated to increase the presence of pain in these patients.