Glasgow coma scale
| Glasgow coma scale |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The Glasgow Coma Scale or GCS is a neurological scale that aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial as well as subsequent assessment. A patient is assessed against the criteria of the scale, and the resulting points give a patient score between 3 (indicating deep unconsciousness) and either 14 (original scale) or 15 (the more widely used modified or revised scale).
GCS was initially used to assess level of consciousness after head injury, and the scale is now used by first aid, EMS, and doctors as being applicable to all acute medical and trauma patients. In hospitals it is also used in monitoring chronic patients in intensive care.
The scale was published in 1974 by Graham Teasdale and Bryan J. Jennett, professors of neurosurgery at the University of Glasgow's Institute of Neurological Sciences at the city's Southern General Hospital.
Elements of the scale
| Eye Opening | Spontaneous | 4 |
| To Verbal Command | 3 | |
| To Pain | 2 | |
| None | 1 | |
| Best Verbal Response | Oriented | 5 |
| Confused | 4 | |
| Inappropriate Words | 3 | |
| Incomprehensive Sounds | 2 | |
| None | 1 | |
| Best Motor Response | Obeys Commands | 6 |
| Localizes Pain | 5 | |
| Withdraws from Pain | 4 | |
| Flexion to Pain | 3 | |
| Extension to Pain | 2 | |
| None | 1 | |
| GCS-Score | 3-15 | |
| GCS > 8 = Somnolent | ||
| >12 | Mild | |
| 12-9 | Moderate | |
| Somnolence: Sleepy, easy to wake | ||
| Stupor: Hypnoid, hard to wake | ||
| GCS < 8 = Unconscious | ||
| 8-7 | Coma Grade I | Light Coma |
| 6-5 | Coma Grade II | Light Coma |
| 4 | Coma Grade III | Deep Coma |
| 3 | Coma Grade IV | Deep Coma |
References
Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]
List of contributors: