title: [Physical diagnosis--the Glasgow coma scale for the measurement of disturbances of consciousness].
abstract: The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) may be used for the evaluation of disturbances of consciousness. The GCS is a reliable and reproducible test that can easily be carried out at the patient's bedside. The GCS can be used to assess the severity of a head injury and to determine the prognosis of the patient. The prerequisites for a reliable determination of the GCS-score are training of inexperienced personnel, re-assessment by a physician with experience in neurology, correction for external factors and reporting in accordance with a protocol.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen, afd. Neurologie, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen. j.van.der.naalt@neuro.azg.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Naalt
mesh_terms: D003243:Consciousness; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index