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Glasgow Coma Scale Overview

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool used to assess a patient's level of consciousness after acute brain injury. It was developed in 1974 and evaluates eye opening, verbal response, and motor response on a scale of 3 to 15, with lower scores indicating more severe brain impairment. The scale helps predict patient outcomes and determine if intubation is needed. While widely used, it has limitations such as preexisting patient factors, injuries, or external influences that can impact scores.

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105 views14 pages

Glasgow Coma Scale Overview

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool used to assess a patient's level of consciousness after acute brain injury. It was developed in 1974 and evaluates eye opening, verbal response, and motor response on a scale of 3 to 15, with lower scores indicating more severe brain impairment. The scale helps predict patient outcomes and determine if intubation is needed. While widely used, it has limitations such as preexisting patient factors, injuries, or external influences that can impact scores.

Uploaded by

Lovelights Zamora
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

GLASGOW COMA SCALE

PREPARED BY: LOVELITES D. ZAMORA, RN


INTRODUCTION

Designed in 1974 by Graham Teasdale and Bryan J.


Jennett, professors of neurosurgery at the University
of Glasgow's Institute of Neurological Sciences
This scale is the gold standard used for all acute
medical and trauma patients.
DEFINITION AND PURPOSES
 A tool that has the ability to communicate
the level of consciousness of patients with
acute or traumatic brain injury
Medical scale designed to assess the depth
(and duration) of impaired consciousness and
coma states
Helps to measure acute and chronic brain
impairment within a trauma scene or during
hospitalization
Used to predict whether a victim or patient is
likely to die (prediction of mortality).
THREE DIFFERENT CRITERIA

1. Eye Opening
2. Verbal Response
3. Motor Response
*Each criteria is on a different
scale with a total possible
score of 15. The lowest
possible score is 3.
EYE RESPONSE

4-Spontaneous - Open before stimuluS

3-To Sound - After spoken request

2-To Pressure - After fingertip stimulus

1-None - No opening at any time, no


interfering factors
Closed by local factor - (NON TESTABLE)
VERBAL RESPONSE
1- None - No audible response, no interfering
factor

2- Sounds - Only moan/groans

3- Words - Intelligible single words

4-Confused - Not orientated but communicates


coherently

5- Oriented - Correctly gives name, place, and


date

Non-testable - Factor interfering with communication


MOTOR RESPONSE
6-Obeys Commands - 2-part request

5-Localising - Brings hand above clavicle to stimulus on


head/neck

4-Normal Flexion - Bends arm at elbow rapidly but


features not predominantly abnormal

3-Abnormal flexion - Bends arm at elbow, features clearly


predominantly abnormal

2-Extension - Extends arm at elbow

1-None - No movement in arms/legs, no interfering factor

Non-testable - Paralysed or other limiting factor


INTERPRETATIONS

Severe: GCS 3-8


Moderate: GCS 9-12
Mild: GCS 13-15
In trauma, a Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) of
8 or less indicates a need for endotracheal
intubation.
In intubated patients, the maximum GCS score
is 10T and the minimum score is 2T.
Limitations of the GCS

Pre-existing facts Age (actual and


Language or cultural intellectual)
difference Current Treatment
Hearing loss or speech Physical
impediment Intubation
Intellectual or baseline Edema (swelling)
neurological deficit Tracheostomy
Baseline psychological Pharmacological
issues
Limitations of the GCS

 Dysphasia (language
Sedation
disorder due to
Paralysis damage of the brain)
Other injuries/wounds/lesions
 Hemiplegia (paralysis
Orbital fracture of one side of the
Cranial fracture body)
Spinal cord damage  External Factors
 Alcohol
 Drugs

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