SEDATION IN THE INTENSIVE-CARE INDICATION S AND TECHNIQUES

Sedation is a technique widely used in intensive care unit patients. T he main objective is to ensure a proper level of analgesia and the bes t physical and psychical comfort possible. For the vast majority of pa tients a light level of sedation is adequate and the level of sedation can easely be deepened to perform a short but painful procedure. A de eper level of sedation, close to that of a general anesthesia is rarel y needed and limited to specific indications: adult respiratory distre ss syndrome, head trauma, status asthmaticus. Drugs used for sedation are combinations of opoids (fentanyl or sufentanil), benzodiazepines ( midazolam) and hypnotic drugs such as propofol. In combination with th e pharmacological approach, a psychological approach is of greater int erest in conscious patients.