All terms
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Also known as: GCS
A 3–15 scale grading conscious level by eye, verbal, and motor responses, used to assess and monitor head injury and reduced consciousness.
A GCS of 8 or below is a key threshold for airway concern. Referencing GCS shows structured assessment of the unconscious patient.
More glossary terms
- ABCDE approachA systematic method for assessing and treating an acutely unwell patient — Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure — dealing with each before moving on.
- AMPLE historyA focused emergency history — Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events — taken quickly in acute situations.
- ARCPThe annual assessment that decides whether a doctor in training has met the competencies to progress to the next stage.
- AVPU scaleA rapid way to grade consciousness — Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive — used in initial assessment.
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