Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)
It is the widely accepted tool to assess a persons level consciousness ,especially in patients
with acute brain injury or comatose patients .
Indications for GCS
For patients having acute brain injury (it will help to assess the severity of injury)
Neurological monitoring (to assess the patients change of consciousness after
Stroke ,seizures or infections)
For monitoring patients with intracranial Pressure issues
Core Components of GCS
Three core components :
E-Eye Openings
V-Verbal response
M-Motor response
How to score using core components
Eye opening -It helps to measure the patients level of arousal and wakefulness.
Scoring: 4-spontanous eye opening
3-Eye opens to sound
2-when responding to pressure /pain
1-None
Verbal response -It measures neurological function through speech
Scoring :5-Oriented (to time ,place and person.)
4-confused (confused conversations)
3-inappropriate words(random or intelligible words spoken)
2-incomprehensible words (Moaning or groaning )
1-No response
Motor response-It evaluates the motor cortex and most important prediction for patient
deterioration.
Scoring :6-Obeys commands (follow simple commands )
5-patient moves intentionally towards a pain stimulus
3-normal flexion (withdrawl from pain)
2-Extension
1-No response
It is the widely accepted tool to assess a persons level consciousness ,especially in patients
with acute brain injury or comatose patients .
Indications for GCS
For patients having acute brain injury (it will help to assess the severity of injury)
Neurological monitoring (to assess the patients change of consciousness after
Stroke ,seizures or infections)
For monitoring patients with intracranial Pressure issues
Core Components of GCS
Three core components :
E-Eye Openings
V-Verbal response
M-Motor response
How to score using core components
Eye opening -It helps to measure the patients level of arousal and wakefulness.
Scoring: 4-spontanous eye opening
3-Eye opens to sound
2-when responding to pressure /pain
1-None
Verbal response -It measures neurological function through speech
Scoring :5-Oriented (to time ,place and person.)
4-confused (confused conversations)
3-inappropriate words(random or intelligible words spoken)
2-incomprehensible words (Moaning or groaning )
1-No response
Motor response-It evaluates the motor cortex and most important prediction for patient
deterioration.
Scoring :6-Obeys commands (follow simple commands )
5-patient moves intentionally towards a pain stimulus
3-normal flexion (withdrawl from pain)
2-Extension
1-No response
