Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) — free guideline decision tool
Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), a behavioral pain scale for patients unable to self-report.
Open guideline tool →Guideline-based
Implements the decision logic from published clinical guidelines.
Runs in your browser
No installation. Enter the patient's values and get a guideline recommendation instantly.
Data stays local
Nothing is uploaded. Results are for licensed clinicians only.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Facial expression | Tense (frowning/brow lowering) (1) |
|---|---|
| Body movements | Protection (slow cautious touching of the painful area) (1) |
| Muscle tension (passive flexion/extension of the upper limb) | Tense, rigid (1) |
| Ventilator compliance (intubated) / vocalization (extubated) | Coughing but tolerating/sighing or moaning (1) |
→CPOT4 pts
- Total：4 pts (max 8) → > 2: significant pain present
- Management direction：reassess
- Note：CPOT has 4 items each 0–2 (facial expression, body movements, muscle tension, ventilator compliance/vocalization), total 0–8; cutoff > 2 indicates significant pain. Observe at rest for 1 minute for a baseline, then reassess during noxious procedures; suitable for patients unable to self-report (intubated/sedated/altered consciousness)
| Facial expression | Relaxed, neutral (0) |
|---|---|
| Body movements | No movement/normal (0) |
| Muscle tension (passive flexion/extension of the upper limb) | Relaxed (0) |
| Ventilator compliance (intubated) / vocalization (extubated) | Tolerating ventilation/normal vocalization (0) |
→CPOT0 pts
- Total：0 pts (max 8) → ≤ 2: no significant pain
- Management direction：reassess regularly before and after procedures (turning, suctioning, etc. can provoke pain)
- Note：CPOT has 4 items each 0–2 (facial expression, body movements, muscle tension, ventilator compliance/vocalization), total 0–8; cutoff > 2 indicates significant pain. Observe at rest for 1 minute for a baseline, then reassess during noxious procedures; suitable for patients unable to self-report (intubated/sedated/altered consciousness)
Common questions
What is Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)?
Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), a behavioral pain scale for patients unable to self-report.
How is Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) calculated? What is the core formula?
Four domains (facial expression, body movements, muscle tension, and ventilator compliance or vocalization) each scored 0–2; total 0–8.
When is Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) used?
Use to assess pain in nonverbal/sedated/ventilated ICU patients by scoring four behavioral domains.
What are the key clinical points for Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)?
CPOT relies on observable behavior, making it usable when self-report is impossible (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim). Self-report remains the gold standard whenever the patient can communicate.
What are the limits and cautions when using Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)?
For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
Does Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
How is Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
Inputs: Facial expression Tense (frowning/brow lowering) (1), Body movements Protection (slow cautious touching of the painful area) (1), Muscle tension (passive flexion/extension of the upper limb) Tense, rigid (1), Ventilator compliance (intubated) / vocalization (extubated) Coughing but tolerating/sighing or moaning (1) → Result: CPOT 4 pts（Total: 4 pts (max 8) → > 2: significant pain present, Management direction: reassess, Note: CPOT has 4 items each 0–2 (facial expression, body movements, muscle tension, ventilator compliance/vocalization), total 0–8; cutoff > 2 indicates significant pain. Observe at rest for 1 minute for a baseline, then reassess during noxious procedures; suitable for patients unable to self-report (intubated/sedated/altered consciousness)） Inputs: Facial expression Relaxed, neutral (0), Body movements No movement/normal (0), Muscle tension (passive flexion/extension of the upper limb) Relaxed (0), Ventilator compliance (intubated) / vocalization (extubated) Tolerating ventilation/normal vocalization (0) → Result: CPOT 0 pts（Total: 0 pts (max 8) → ≤ 2: no significant pain, Management direction: reassess regularly before and after procedures (turning, suctioning, etc. can provoke pain), Note: CPOT has 4 items each 0–2 (facial expression, body movements, muscle tension, ventilator compliance/vocalization), total 0–8; cutoff > 2 indicates significant pain. Observe at rest for 1 minute for a baseline, then reassess during noxious procedures; suitable for patients unable to self-report (intubated/sedated/altered consciousness)）
Run Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) now
Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), a behavioral pain scale for patients unable to self-report.
Open guideline tool →For licensed clinicians. Not a substitute for clinical judgement.
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