Nociception Monitoring

Pain is defined as ‘an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage’. In contrast, nociception refers to the physiological encoding and processing of noxious stimuli. Traditionally, pain monitoring has relied on clinical features along with clinical pain rating scales. However, in anaesthesia and intensive care unit (ICU) patients, these methods may be limited due to unconsciousness, sedation, and delirium. Monitoring nociception and pain during the perioperative period is crucial for achieving optimal management and improving patient outcomes. This approach ensures tailored analgesic administration, enhances patient comfort, and promotes faster recovery, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes and higher patient satisfaction. Nowadays, it can be evaluated: in fact, several nociception monitoring tools have been developed, utilizing one or more parameters. This chapter discusses their applicability and limitations.