ASA Physical Status Classification
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification for perioperative risk. Guides anaesthetic planning and consent.
Score interpretation
→ Standard anaesthesia; routine monitoring; elective or emergency cases managed normally
→ Enhanced monitoring (arterial line); HDU/ICU post-op; optimise comorbidities preoperatively
→ Senior anaesthetist; ICU post-op; detailed risk/benefit discussion; consider regional over general
→ Emergency or organ donation only; maximum monitoring; ICU; multidisciplinary decision-making
Interpretation bands for the ASA Classification. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- POSSUM Score for Surgical Morbidity and Mortality · Perioperative Risk
- SORT (Surgical Outcome Risk Tool) · Perioperative Risk
- Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI / Lee Index) · Perioperative Risk
- Gupta Perioperative Risk for MI or Cardiac Arrest (MICA) · Perioperative Risk
- Cardiovascular Risk in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (CAR-OLT) Score · Perioperative Risk
- SORT — Surgical Outcome Risk Tool · Perioperative Risk
- Ketamine (Anaesthesia/Sedation) · Dissociative Anaesthetic (NMDA Receptor Antagonist)
- Morphine (IV/IM — Anaesthesia/ICU) · Strong Opioid Analgesic
- Suxamethonium (Anaesthesia/RSI) · Depolarising Neuromuscular Blocking Agent
- Rocuronium (Anaesthesia/RSI) · Non-Depolarising Neuromuscular Blocking Agent
- Fentanyl (IV — Anaesthesia/ICU) · Opioid Analgesic (Short-Acting)
- Lidocaine (IV — Anaesthesia/ICU) · Local Anaesthetic / Antiarrhythmic (Class Ib)
- Sodium channel blocker / LAST · AAGBI Safety Guideline 2010 (LAST); TOXBASE/NPIS; ESC
- Propofol / ketamine toxicity · TOXBASE/NPIS; AAGBI; AACT/EAPCCT
- Major Trauma — Primary Survey (ATLS) · ATLS 10th Edition; JRCALC; NICE NG39
- Major Haemorrhage / Massive Transfusion · BCSH; RCOA; RCEM; RCS — BCSH Guidelines
- Burns — TBSA Estimation & Fluid Resuscitation · British Burn Association; EMSB; RCEM 2024
- Lower Gastrointestinal Bleed · NICE; BSG; ACPGBI — Commissioning Guide
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.