ANESTHESIOLOGY

Gisele de Azevedo Prazeres, MD

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ASA Classification



The American Society of Anesthesiologists’(ASA) physical status classification serves as guide, although imprecise because patients could be placed in different classes by different anesthesiologists, to better communication among anesthesiologists about clinical conditions of patients, in the way to predict their anesthetic/surgical risks -as higher ASA class, as higher the risks. See below the five classes as last modified in 1961:

ASA Classification

Class 1Healthy patient, no medical problems
Class 2 Mild systemic disease
Class 3Severe systemic disease, but not incapaitating
Class 4Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
Class 5 Moribund, not expected to live 24 hours irrespective of operation
An e is added to the status number to designate an emergency operation.
An organ donnor is usually designate as Class 6

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