Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Calculator

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological scale used to assess a person's level of consciousness after a brain injury. It is the most widely used scoring system for coma and altered consciousness.

What is the Glasgow Coma Scale?

The GCS was developed in 1974 by Graham Teasdale and Bryan Jennett at the University of Glasgow. It provides a reliable and objective way to assess the consciousness level of patients, particularly those with head injuries.

GCS Scoring System

The GCS evaluates three aspects of a patient's response:

1. Eye Opening Response (1-4 points)

• 4 points: Spontaneous eye opening (normal arousal)
• 3 points: Eye opening to verbal stimuli
• 2 points: Eye opening to pain stimuli
• 1 point: No eye opening even to pain stimuli

2. Verbal Response (1-5 points)

• 5 points: Oriented (normal cognitive function)
• 4 points: Confused speech
• 3 points: Inappropriate words
• 2 points: Incomprehensible sounds
• 1 point: No verbal response

3. Motor Response (1-6 points)

• 6 points: Obeys commands normally
• 5 points: Localizes to pain
• 4 points: Withdraws from pain
• 3 points: Abnormal flexion to pain (decorticate response)
• 2 points: Abnormal extension to pain (decerebrate response)
• 1 point: No motor response

Calculation Method

The total GCS score is calculated by summing the scores from all three components:

Total GCS = Eye Response + Verbal Response + Motor Response

This produces a score range from 3 (deep coma) to 15 (normal consciousness).

Severity Classifications

• Mild: 13-15 points (Normal consciousness)
• Moderate: 9-12 points (Decreased consciousness)
• Severe: 3-8 points (Coma or deep unconsciousness)

Clinical Applications

The GCS is used extensively in:

• Triage of head injury patients in emergency departments
• Monitoring neurological function in intensive care units
• Assessing stroke patients and their level of consciousness
• Guiding treatment decisions and predicting outcomes in traumatic brain injury

Interpretation

The GCS is considered the gold standard for assessing consciousness levels and has been validated across different patient populations and clinical settings. A lower score indicates a more severe neurological impairment.

It's important to note that the GCS should be used as part of a comprehensive neurological assessment and not as a standalone diagnostic tool.