Glasgow Coma Scale

Formula

GCS = eye (1-4) + verbal (1-5) + motor (1-6); range 3 to 15.

Limitations

• Intubated, aphasic or sedated patients cannot be scored on the verbal component; the "T" suffix is not handled.
• The severity bands 13-15 / 9-12 / 3-8 are a later head-injury convention, not part of the 1974 paper.
• Individual patients are best described by the three components; the total score is mainly used to characterise groups, and predictions should be made together with other variables (Teasdale 2014).

References

1. Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness. A practical scale. Teasdale G, Jennett B. Lancet. 1974;2(7872):81-84. PMID 4136544
2. The Glasgow Coma Scale at 40 years: standing the test of time. Teasdale G, et al. Lancet Neurol. 2014;13(8):844-854. PMID 25030516