Role of Glasgow Coma Scale in pediatric nontraumatic coma.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS), its components and survival in children with acute coma. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary care referral hospital. PATIENTS Consecutive children (n = 270) with acute nontraumatic coma between 2 months to 12 years. METHODOLOGY: MGCS and brainstem reflexes were assessed at 6 hourly intervals for 72 hours from the time of admission. The lowest score of the MGCS and worst brain stem reflexes were used for the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Survival. RESULTS: Total score (Spearman rank correlation coefficient IRI = O.577, ocular response (IRI = O.641), motor response (IRI = O.729), verbal response (lRI = 0.608), brain stem response (lRI = O.843) were all found to be associated with adverse outcome. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that ocular response and motor response were individually predictive of short-term outcome. CONCLUSION: A score incorporating the brain stem reflexes, ocular response and motor response in the assessment and prognostication of comatose patients needs to be evaluated.