Glasgow Coma Scale in Anticipation of Sepsis and Septic Shock: Review Article

Alalawi, Mohammed Saeed M; Aljabran, Hussain Abdullah M; Alkhamri, Abdullah Mohammed; Alwahbi, Abdulrahman Mohammed; AlQarrash, Zahra Ibrahim; Iraqi, Hussain Abdulillah M; Alonazi, Mohammed Saleh M; Alotaibi, Abdulaziz Raja Najim; Alahmari, Majed Ali Mohammed; Alnuwaiser, Ahmed Abdalmuhssen A; Mimarji, Feras Khalid A.; Al-Enezi, Abdullah Atallah; Alabbad, Naif Ahmed A; Alhayki, Alaa Hassan; Farran, Mashail Hashim H

doi:10.12816/0042245

Glasgow Coma Scale in Anticipation of Sepsis and Septic Shock: Review Article

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine,Anak General Hospital, Anak, Saudi Arabia

² Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

³ Department of Emergency Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia

⁵ Department of Emergency Medicine, Jeddah University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

⁶ Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University

⁷ Department of Emergency Medicine,Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia,

⁹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majmaah, Saudi Arabia

¹⁰ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland,

¹¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam

¹² Department of Emergency Medicine, Ibn Sina National College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

10.12816/0042245

Abstract

Evaluation of level of consciousness has become essential for anticipation of sepsis and septic shock. Both the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and the quick SOFA score utilize the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) for screening of sepsis. Objectives: the aim of this review is to determine and study the role of Glasgow coma score in anticipation of sepsis and septic shock. Methods: To achieve this aim, we have searched online database, namely PubMed and Cochrane Library for studies and review articles assessing the significance of assessment of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for anticipating sepsis or septic shock. Thirteen appropriately-related studies were selected for review. Results: Disturbed sensorium was found to be a sensitive early indicator for sepsis, thus GCS is used for assessment of both the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and quick SOFA scores qSOFA scores. Lower GCS scores were associated with high mortality rates. Discussion: Encephalopathy is an early sign of sepsis and septic shock. Glasgow Coma score (GCS) was a good indicator of neurological dysfunction evaluated by the SOFA and qSOFA scores. The use of GCS was also a predictor of mortality in patients with sepsis. Some researchers, however, reported that GCS was not the best tool for measuring brain dysfunction in sepsis. Conclusions: Glasgow coma score can anticipate sepsis and septic shock, and predict the outcome of sepsis.

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