AVPU system

Encyclopedia : A : AV : AVP : AVPU system

The AVPU system is a measure of consciousness of a patient. It is based loosely on the Glasgow Coma Scale, which measures the response of each of the AVPU in terms of eye, motor and verbal response. The AVPU system is concerned only with the best response of:-

Alert - a fully awake (although not nescessarily orientated) patient
Voice - the patient makes some kind of response when you talk to them - e.g. eyes open on "are you okay?!"
Pain - the patient makes a response when some (mild) pain is infliceted - e.g. pinching the ears or rubbing the sternum with your knuckles
Unresponsive - A patient who does not respond to voice or pain is deemed unresponsive.

In first aid, a persistent AVPU below A is often considered an indication to call an ambulance to have the patient assessed at hospital. In hospital, or long term healthcare facilities such as nursing homes, the AVPU scale may form part of the routine observations, and may persist in being at a level other than alert.

The scale is not suitable for long-term neurological observation of the patient - for that, the Glasgow coma scale is used.

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