

Dysphasia (language disorder due to damage of the brain).Intellectual or baseline neurological deficit.While the Glasgow Coma Scale is a great diagnostic tool there are multiple limitations that can alter the score and not provide an accurate picture of the patient’s brain injury. These patients are identified with the numerical value of 1 and an attached modifier.įor example, an intubated patient would have a verbal response of 1t, whereas a patient with pronounced eye swelling would have an eye response of 1c identifying the eyes as closed and unable to open due to the swelling. Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less are considered to have suffered a severe head injury.Īs previously mentioned, accommodations are made for intubated patients but also those with gross facial edema, or swelling. Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 7 or less are considered comatose. Once a score has been identified, it’s important to understand the meaning.Įvery brain injury is different, but generally, brain injury is classified as:Ĭertain scores on the Glasgow Coma Scale have significance. Once a number has been determined, add these to create the sum which is the patient’s Glasgow score. To calculate a patient’s GCS, first, score the patient on each of the three main areas. The column of 1t is added to verbal response at some hospitals to accommodate those patients without altering their GCS score. Consideration is made for those with tracheostomy and endotracheal breathing tubes. Medical professionals use the aforementioned scale for the best eye-opening response, the best motor response, and the best verbal response. Localising - Brings hand above clavicle to stimulus on head/neck (+5).

Normal Flexion - Bends arm at elbow rapidly but features not predominantly abnormal (+4).Abnormal flexion - Bends arm at elbow, features clearly predominantly abnormal (+3).None - No movement in arms/legs, no interfering factor (+1).Non-testable - Paralysed or other limiting factor (NT).Oriented - Correctly gives name, place, and date (+5).Confused - Not orientated but communicates coherently (+4).None - No audible response, no interfering factor (+1).Non-testable - Factor interfering with communication (NT).To Pressure - After fingertip stimulus (+2).None - No opening at any time, no interfering factor (+1).The Glasgow Coma Scale analyzes patients on three different criteria:Įach criterion is on a different scale with a total possible score of 15. How to Calculate a Patient’s Glasgow Coma Score Advanced Practice Nurses of the Permian Basin.

