A patient with a GCS less than what requires intubation if no immediately reversible causes are found?

• A. 7
• B. 10
• C. 9
• D. 8

Answer: (C)

Airway protection is the central concern when a patient’s consciousness is reduced. When there are no immediately reversible causes, intubation is indicated for a GCS of 8 or lower because at that level the patient can no longer reliably protect the airway. Saying “less than 9” matches that boundary (it includes 8 or lower), which is why it’s the best way to express the threshold. The other numbers shift the boundary: 7 would delay intubation until the score is even lower; 8 would delay until below 8 and miss cases with a score of 8; 10 would prompt intubation at 9 or lower, which is earlier than the standard once reversible causes are excluded.