ABSTRACT
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a subjective way of assessing and recording a patient’s consciousness. The scale comprises three components: eye, verbal and motor response. The grades of each are as follows:
Best eye response (E) 4 Eyes open spontaneously 3 Eyes open to speech 2 Eyes open to pain 1 No eye opening
Best verbal response (V) 5 Coherent speech 4 Confused/disorientated speech 3 Inappropriate words without conversational exchange 2 Incomprehensible sounds 1 No verbal response
Best motor response (M) 6 Obeys commands 5 Localizes to pain 4 Withdraws from pain 3 Abnormal fl exion in response to pain (decorticate response) 2 Abnormal extension in response to pain (decerebrate response) 1 No motor response
The maximum score is 15 (E4, V5, M6) and the minimum is 3 (E1, V1, M1).
