Recovery following anesthesia can be monitored by assessment of clinical findings.
Parameters evaluated:
(1) movement of extremities (as a measure of muscle activity)
(2) respiration
(3) systolic blood pressure (as a measure of circulation)
(4) level of consciousness
(5) skin coloration
Assessment is conducted at arrival to the recovery room, then at 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours after arrival. Some hospitals include assessments every 15 minutes during the first hour after arrival in the recovery room.
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
movement of extremities |
able to move 4 extremities voluntarily or on command |
2 |
|
|
able to move 2 extremities voluntarily or on command |
1 |
|
|
able to move 0 extremities voluntarily or on command |
0 |
|
respiration |
able to deep breaths and cough freely |
2 |
|
|
dyspnea or limited breathing |
1 |
|
|
apneic |
0 |
|
systolic blood pressure |
blood pressure +/- 20% of preanesthetic level |
2 |
|
|
blood pressure +/- 20-50% of preanesthetic level |
1 |
|
|
blood pressure +/- 50% of preanesthetic level |
0 |
|
level of consciousness |
fully awake |
2 |
|
|
arousable on calling |
1 |
|
|
not responding |
0 |
|
skin coloration |
pink |
2 |
|
|
pale, dusky, blotchy, jaundiced, other |
1 |
|
|
cyanotic |
0 |
Interpretation:
• maximum score: 10
• minimum score: 0
• The higher the score the better.
|
Score |
Interpretation |
|
10 |
optimum |
|
8 or 9 |
safe |
|
<= 7 |
low or dangerous |
Specialty: Anesthesiology
