Pain Measurement in Mechanically Ventilated Patients After Cardiac Surgery: Comparison of the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)

Postsurgical pain is common in critically ill patients, such as cardiac surgery patients, and can have a negative effect on recovery. The experience of severe pain during intensive care unit (ICU) stays has been linked to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder–related symptoms. In response, pain monitoring practices using validated scales are used in ICU patients. Because these patients are often in a nonverbal state, scales such as the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) are often implemented. This prospective observational cohort study aimed to compare the interrater reliability, internal consistency, and discriminant validation of the BPS and the CPOT in mechanically ventilated patients who were unable to self-report pain after cardiac surgery. The study was set in a 20-bed, closed-format ICU