Glasgow Coma Scale

Not to be confused with Glasgow Outcome Scale.
Glasgow Coma Scale
MeSHD015600
LOINC35088-4

The Glasgow Coma Scale[1] (GCS) is a clinical diagnostic tool widely used since the 1970's to roughly assess an injured person's level of brain damage. The GCS diagnosis is based on a patient's ability to respond and interact with three kinds of behaviour: eye movements, speech, and other body motions. A GCS score can range from 3 (completely unresponsive) to 15 (responsive). An initial score is used to guide immediate medical care after traumatic brain injury (such as a car accident) and a post-treatment score can monitor hospitalised patients and track their recovery.

Lower GCS scores are correlated with higher risk of death. However, the GCS score alone should not be used on its own to predict the outcome for an individual person with brain injury.

  1. ^ Teasdale G, Jennett B (July 1974). "Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness. A practical scale". The Lancet. 2 (7872): 81–4. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(74)91639-0. PMID 4136544.
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