title: The use of Glasgow Coma Scale in poisoning.
abstract: A 12-month prospective study was undertaken to observe current practice and to determine if a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 8 or less on admission is a useful parameter to predict the need for airway protection in poisoning. For the period of September 1988 to August 1989, there were 414 admissions for poisoning with 3 fatalities (0.7%). A total of 41 patients (10%) were assessed by attending physicians as requiring airway protection. An initial GCS of 8 or less had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 95% for predicting the need for intubation. Logistic regression analysis showed an odds ratio of 0.48 for the relationship between GCS and intubation, significant at P < 0.001. In addition, the absence of a gag reflex on admission gave a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 100% for predicting the need for airway protection. Further analysis showed that the presence or absence of a gag reflex added nothing to the GCS for the prediction of probability for intubation. In conclusion, an initial GCS of 8 or less was found to be a useful guideline for intubation. However, it should be used in conjunction with the clinical context.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Nepean District Hospital, Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaudry
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Grattan-Smith
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McNeil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity