Table 1

Behavioral Pain Scale

Item
Description
Score

Facial expression
Relaxed
1

Partially tightened (for example, brow lowering)
2

Fully tightened (for example, eyelid closing)
3

Grimacing
4
Upper limbs
No movement
1

Partially bent
2

Fully bent with finger flexion
3

Permanently retracted
4
Compliance with ventilation
Tolerating movement
1

Coughing but tolerating ventilation for most of the time
2

Fighting ventilator
3

Unable to control ventilation
4

Scores from each of the three domains are summed, with a total score of 3 to 12 [15].

Sessler et al. Critical Care 2008 12(Suppl 3):S2   doi:10.1186/cc6148