title: [Glasgow Coma Scale < 9 as a criterion for tracheal intubation of patients with traumatic brain injuries?].
abstract: Guidelines use GCS < 9 as a criterion for tracheal intubation of patients with traumatic brain injuries. Our hypothesis was that there was actually no evidence for using this criterion. We searched relevant databases and found no association between a particular GCS and impaired pharyngeal control, but we did find an association between a low GCS and respiratory insufficiency. Our findings suggest that patients with traumatic brain damages should be monitored closely using GCS as a supplement in the overall assessment of respiratory insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Rigshospitalet, HovedOrtoCentret, Anaestesi- og Operationsklinikken. jacobvad@stud.ku.dk
authors.forename: Jacob Vad
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Charlotte Vallentin
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Rosenstock
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy