1. What is the Glasgow Coma Scale?

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological scale used to assess a person's level of consciousness after a head injury. It evaluates three components: eye response, verbal response, and motor response, with scores ranging from 3 to 15.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the GCS formula:

Where:

• \( E \) — Eye Response (1-4 points)
• \( V \) — Verbal Response (1-5 points)
• \( M \) — Motor Response (1-6 points)

Explanation: The scale provides a quick, standardized method for assessing consciousness level by summing scores from the three response categories.

3. Importance of GCS Assessment

Details: GCS is crucial for initial assessment of head injuries, monitoring neurological status, guiding treatment decisions, and predicting patient outcomes in emergency and critical care settings.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select the appropriate response level for each category based on patient assessment. The total score provides an objective measure of consciousness level.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do different GCS scores indicate?
A: 13-15: Mild brain injury; 9-12: Moderate brain injury; 3-8: Severe brain injury (coma)

Q2: How often should GCS be assessed?
A: Frequency depends on patient condition - typically every 30 minutes to 4 hours for acute cases, or as clinically indicated.

Q3: Are there limitations to GCS?
A: Yes, it may be less reliable in intubated patients, those with language barriers, or when sedatives/paralytics are used.

Q4: What is the minimum GCS score?
A: The minimum score is 3, indicating no eye, verbal, or motor responses.

Q5: How does GCS relate to patient prognosis?
A: Generally, lower GCS scores correlate with worse outcomes, though many factors influence prognosis in brain injury patients.