EAC Glasgow Coma Scale GCS Flashcards
Purpose of GCS
a neurological scale that aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial and subsequent assessment
adult criteria of:
Eye Opening Response
- Eyes opening spontaneously
- Eyes opening to speech
- Eyes opening to pain stimulus
- No eye opening
adult criteria of:
Verbal Response
- Orientated
- Confused
- Inappropriate words
- Incomprehensible sounds
- No
adult criteria of:
Motor Response
- Obeys commands
- Localises to pain
- Withdrawal from pain
- Abnormal flexion
- Abnormal extension
- No
acceptable pain stimuli
Trapezius squeeze
Supra-orbital pressure
GCS brain injury classification:
Sever
≤8
GCS brain injury classification:
Moderate
9-12
GCS brain injury classification:
Minor
≥13
Paediatric criteria of:
Best Verbal Response
- Smiles, orientated to sounds, follows objects, interacts
- Cries but consolable, inappropriate interactions
- Inconsistently inconsolable, moaning
- Inconsolable, agitated
- No verbal response
Paediatric criteria of:
Best Motor Response
- Infant moves spontaneously or purposefully
- Infant withdraws form touch
- Infant withdraws form pain
- Abnormal flexion to pain for an infant
- Extension to pain
- No motor response
changes in paediatric from adult best response criteria
Eye opening response stays the same
Best verbal and best motor response are different
abbreviated coma scale
AVPU is used during primary survey
A alert
V responds to vocal stimuli
P responds to pain
U unresponsive
PRF compliance requirement of GCS
Two full sets of obs MUST be recorded for every pt
if 2nd set is not required or no possible, the rationale for this must be detailed in free text.
