Coma

Question 1

How is coma measured?

Answer 1

Using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).

Question 2

What does the Glasgow Coma Scale measure?

Answer 2

Depth of coma.

Question 3

What are the three components measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale?

Answer 3

Eye opening response, best verbal response, and best motor response.

Question 4

How is eye opening scored on the Glasgow Coma Scale?

Answer 4

Spontaneous (4), to speech (3), to pain (2), no response (1).

Question 5

How is best verbal response scored on the Glasgow Coma Scale?

Answer 5

Oriented to time, place and person (5), confused (4), inappropriate words (3), incomprehensible sounds (2), no response (1).

Question 6

How is best motor response scored on the Glasgow Coma Scale?

Answer 6

Obeys commands (6), moves to localised pain (5), flexion withdrawal from pain (4), abnormal flexion/decorticate (3), abnormal extension/decerebrate (2), no response (1).

Question 7

What is the maximum possible Glasgow Coma Scale score?

Answer 7

15.

Question 8

What Glasgow Coma Scale score indicates coma?

Answer 8

8 or less.

Question 9

What Glasgow Coma Scale score indicates a totally unresponsive patient?

Answer 9

3.

Question 10

How is traumatic brain injury severity classified using summed GCS in the first 24 hours (Bond, 1986)?

Answer 10

Mild: GCS 13–15; Severe: GCS 3–8.

Question 11

What controversy exists around mild traumatic brain injury classification using GCS?

Answer 11

Debate over whether mild TBI should be classified as GCS 14–15 rather than 13–15.

Question 12

How is traumatic brain injury severity classified based on duration of coma (Bond, 1986)?

Answer 12

Mild: less than 15 minutes; Very severe: greater than 48 hours.