AVPU

The AVPU scale (an acronym from "alert, verbal, pain, unresponsive") is a system by which a health care professional can measure and record a patient's level of consciousness.[1] It is mostly used in emergency medicine protocols, and within first aid.

It is a simplification of the Glasgow Coma Scale, which assesses a patient response in three measures: eyes, voice and motor skills. The AVPU scale should be assessed using these three identifiable traits, looking for the best response of each.[2]

  1. ^ Kelly, CA; Upex A; Bateman DN. (August 2004). "Comparison of consciousness level assessment in the poisoned patient using the alert/verbal/painful/unresponsive scale and the Glasgow Coma Scale". Annals of Emergency Medicine. 44 (2): 108–113. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2004.03.028. PMID 15278081.
  2. ^ McNarry, AF; Bateman, DN (January 2004). "Simple bedside assessment of level of consciousness: comparison of two simple assessment scales with the Glasgow Coma scale". Anaesthesia. 59 (1): 34–7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.03526.x. PMID 14687096.