An intubated, sedated trauma patient is assessed for neurological status. She opens her eyes to painful stimulus, makes incomprehensible sounds, and withdraws from pain. What is her Glasgow Coma Scale score, and how is it documented?

• A GCS 7 (E2V2M3)
• B GCS 6 (E2V1M3) ✓
• C GCS 6T (E1VTM5)
• D GCS 8 (E2V2M4)

Explanation

Eye opening to pain scores 2, incomprehensible sounds score 2, and withdrawal from pain scores 4, giving a total of 8, so option B is wrong in its own text; the correct arithmetic here is E2 plus V2 plus M4 equals 8. Among the options listed, the intended key is the combination E2V2M4 totalling GCS 8. Intubated patients have the verbal score recorded with a T suffix, but this patient vocalises incomprehensible sounds, so no suffix is used. Sedation must be withheld briefly for valid scoring.

Reference: ATLS Student Course Manual, American College of Surgeons, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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