The Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) can be used to evaluate pain in an adult patient in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Parameters:
(1) facial expression
(2) body movements
(3) muscle tension in the upper extremities
(4) vocalization (not intubated) or compliance with ventilator (intubated)
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
facial expression |
relaxed |
0 |
|
tense |
1 |
|
grimacing (tense muscles plus tightly closed eyelids) |
2 |
body movements |
none |
0 |
|
protective |
1 |
|
restlessness, thrashing, combative |
2 |
muscle tension |
none (relaxed) |
0 |
|
tense and rigid |
1 |
|
very tense and rigid |
2 |
vocalization or compliance |
not intubated AND no sound or talking normally |
0 |
|
not intubated AND sighing, moaning |
1 |
|
not intubated AND crying out, sobbing |
2 |
|
intubated AND tolerating ventilator |
0 |
|
intubated AND coughing but tolerating |
1 |
|
intubated AND fighting ventilator |
2 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum total score: 0
• maximum total score: 8
• The higher the score the greater the expression of behaviors associated with pain.
Limitations:
• Altered consciousness, paralysis and sedation would mask pain behaviors.
Purpose: To evaluate pain behaviors shown by an adult patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) using the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) of Gelinas et al.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage, disability and performance
ICD-10: R52.1, R52.2,