[Monitoring pain: recommendations of the Analgesia and Sedation Work Group of SEMICYUC].

In critically ill patients, pain is frequently underestimated and so insufficiently managed. Psychological, haemodynamic and neuroendocrine responses, secondary to untreated pain, could produce morbidity and even increases in patient mortality. All members of the intensive care team must have abilities to assess and to manage pain. The evaluation of pain in the critically ill patient is very difficult but extremely important. Self-reported pain is the starting point for treatment. The pain scores recommended are, VAS (visual analogue scale) and NRS (numeric rating scale) in communicative patients and Campbell scale in uncommunicative patients. Adequate and regular patient assessment leads to improved pain control. Scores higher than 3 points should not be permitted. A pain-free Intensive Care Unit should be a quality standard healthcare aim.