EFFECTIVENESS OF MODIFIED GLASGOW COMA SCALE (MGCS) IN COMBINATION WITH BRAINSTEM REFLEXES ON SURVIVAL OUTCOME PREDICTION IN CHILDREN WITH NON–TRAUMATIC COMA

Shaji SM; Leya Sara; Benny PV

Volume : IX, Issue : VII, July - 2019

EFFECTIVENESS OF MODIFIED GLASGOW COMA SCALE (MGCS) IN COMBINATION WITH BRAINSTEM REFLEXES ON SURVIVAL OUTCOME PREDICTION IN CHILDREN WITH NON–TRAUMATIC COMA

Shaji Sm, Leya Sara, Benny Pv

Abstract :

Back ground: The Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was primarily developed to depict the level of consciousness in patients with head injuries. This scale was created to aid the assessment and grading of ain dysfunction severity and outcome, and also widely used and accepted prognostic indicator for non–traumatic altered consciousness. This study is to analyze the effectiveness of Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS) in combination with ainstem reflex assessment score in predicting the survival outcome in children with non traumatic coma. Materials and Methods: A hospital based descriptive study conducted among children aged 5 months to 15 years, admitted in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care teaching hospital with non–traumatic coma during the period of January 2010 to January 2012. Results: Individual components of MGCS were analysed and found that low individual scores and the total score of less than eight were associated with poor out come in terms of death, which has got a significant association (P <0.001). The ainstem reflex score of more than 2 was found to be predictive of better outcome (P = <0.001). Conclusion: The Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS) and Brain stem reflexes score are simple, easily applied at bed side, but both having limitations. The application of both these scores simultaneously can help in decision making in management and timely referral.