Glasgow Coma Scale

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a clinical diagnostic tool widely used since the 1970s to assess a patient's level of consciousness. While initially primarily utilized in patients with traumatic brain injuries, its utilization has extended to assess the level of consciousness in a wide range of settings, illnesses, and injuries. The GCS score takes into consideration three components: eye movements, verbal response (e.g., speech), and motor response (e.g. purposeful body movements). A GCS score can range from the lowest possible score of 3, in which a patient is completely unresponsive and is associated with a state of coma, to the best score possible of 15, in which a patient is fully alert and interactive. 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. The total GCS score is not recommended to be used by itself to predict patient outcomes.