1. What is the Glasgow Coma Scale?

The Glasgow Coma Scale (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. It assesses three aspects: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the GCS formula:

Where:

• Eye Response (1-4): Measures how the eyes open to stimuli
• Verbal Response (1-5): Assesses speech and communication ability
• Motor Response (1-6): Evaluates movement in response to commands or pain

Explanation: The scale ranges from 3 (deep unconsciousness) to 15 (fully awake and oriented).

3. Importance of GCS Assessment

Details: GCS is crucial for initial assessment of traumatic brain injury, monitoring neurological status, and predicting outcomes in brain injury patients.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select the best response for each category based on patient examination. The total score helps classify the severity of brain injury.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the GCS scores indicate?
A: 13-15 = Minor injury; 9-12 = Moderate injury; ≤8 = Severe injury (coma).

Q2: How often should GCS be assessed?
A: Frequency depends on clinical condition - typically every 30 minutes to 4 hours for acute cases.

Q3: Are there limitations to GCS?
A: Yes, it can't be used in intubated patients (verbal score affected) and may be less reliable in children.

Q4: What's the pediatric version?
A: Modified for children too young to talk - uses different verbal criteria.

Q5: How does GCS relate to prognosis?
A: Lower scores generally correlate with worse outcomes, though many factors influence prognosis.