Glasgow Coma Scale
Also written as: GCS — Glasgow Coma Scale
A standardized scoring system used to assess level of consciousness in patients with brain injury.
Full Definition
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological assessment tool that evaluates a patient's level of consciousness following brain injury or in altered mental states. The scale measures three components: eye opening response (1-4 points), verbal response (1-5 points), and motor response (1-6 points), with scores ranging from 3 (deep unconsciousness) to 15 (fully alert). It is widely used in emergency medicine, intensive care, and neurological monitoring to track patient condition and predict outcomes.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize both words when referring to the formal scale. Commonly abbreviated as GCS.
In Context
- "The patient presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8, indicating severe brain injury requiring immediate intervention." — Emergency department report
- "Serial Glasgow Coma Scale assessments showed gradual improvement from 6 to 12 over the first week." — ICU progress note