PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

How is the Glasgow Coma Score categorized?

1. By heart rate and blood pressure

2. By eye, verbal, and motor responses

3. By patient age and gender

4. By MRI and CT findings

The correct answer is: By eye, verbal, and motor responses

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a clinical tool used to assess a patient's level of consciousness and neurological status, particularly after a head injury. It categorizes the patient's response into three main components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each of these components is scored separately, and the total score is calculated by adding the points from each category, leading to a maximum possible score of 15, which indicates a fully alert and oriented individual. Eye responses are scored from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating better responses (e.g., opening eyes spontaneously versus no eye opening at all). Verbal responses are scored from 1 to 5, with scores reflecting the patient's ability to converse coherently and appropriately. Motor responses are scored from 1 to 6, indicating the patient's ability to follow commands or exhibit purposeful movement. This categorization provides a systematic way to assess and communicate a patient's neurological status quickly and effectively, especially in emergency settings. Other options, which involve physiological parameters, demographic factors, or imaging findings, do not pertain to the assessment process defined by the GCS.