Coma scale, eyes open, never, in the field

This code indicates that a patient, assessed by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in a pre-hospital setting, exhibited no eye-opening response to any stimulus. It signifies the lowest possible score for the eye-opening component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) during an initial field assessment. This finding suggests a severe level of impaired consciousness.

Use this code when EMS documentation explicitly states a GCS eye-opening score of "1" or "never" during their pre-hospital assessment. This is typically seen in patients with severe traumatic brain injury, stroke, overdose, or other critical conditions leading to profound neurological compromise. The EMS run sheet or pre-hospital care report is the primary source of documentation.

• Always verify that the assessment was performed by EMS in the field, as indicated by the "in the field [EMT or ambulance]" specificity.
• Do not use this code if the GCS assessment was performed in the emergency department or other hospital settings; specific codes exist for those scenarios.
• This code should be sequenced after the primary diagnosis explaining the patient's altered mental status, such as a traumatic brain injury or cerebrovascular accident.