ASA Classification

The American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification, a six-level scale (ASA I-VI) that grades a patient's pre-operative health for anaesthetic risk. ASA I is a normal healthy patient; ASA III has severe systemic disease; ASA V is a moribund patient not expected to survive without surgery. ASA score is one of the inputs that determine peri-operative monitoring intensity, ICU planning, and informed-consent discussions.