Assessment of Conscious Level (AVPU and Glasgow Coma Scale)

Question 1

What does AVPU stand for ?

Answer 1

Alert
Responding to Voice
Responding to Pain (trapezius muscle pinch)
Unresponsive

Question 2

Which components of Behavioural Response does the GCS assess ?

Answer 2

Eye opening response
Verbal response
Motor response

Question 3

Which score ranges are possible for each component assessed ?

Answer 3

Eye opening response (1-4)
Verbal response (1-5)
Motor response (1-6)

Question 4

What are the three kinds of methods used to assess eye and verbal response ?

Answer 4

Passive observation (Stand and watch the person for a short time. Here you are exerting no
stimulus)
Active observation (Talking to the person is the next stimulus to try)
Active P stimulus ( pressure to the finger over the nail tip. Pressure increased gradually over 10 seconds at most until response is initiated or maximum pressure is reached)

Question 5

What GSC score correlated with mild brain injury ? Moderate injury ? Severe brain injury ?

Answer 5

14-15 for mild, 9 to 13 for moderate, 3 to 8 for severe

Question 6

Which score corresponds to a coma ?

Answer 6

Score less than 8

Question 7

What score does each of AVPU correlate with ?

Answer 7

A (15)
P (12-14)
V (7-9)
U (3-7)

Question 8

What are the possible observations for eye response ?

Answer 8

4 = Open spontaneously
3 = Open to sound
2 = Open to pressure
1 = Not opening

Question 9

What are the possible observations for verbal response ?

Answer 9

5 = Normal speech / orientated
4 = Confused speech / disorientated
3 = Inappropriate words
2 = Incomprehensible sounds (moaning, groaning)
1 = No verbal response

Question 10

What are the possible observations for motor response ?

Answer 10

6= Obeying commands
5 = Localising to pain
4= Normal flexion to pain (withdrawal)
3 = Abnormal flexion to pain (This can be difficult to assess so is often not used)
2= Extending to pain
1 = No motor response