Are you also having an operation soon? Then let's learn exactly about this ASA Classification!

Have you ever been told by doctors to have a major or minor operation, that is, surgery? In such a case, you Before giving you anesthesia , or the medicine that numbs your pain during surgery, your doctor will do a little assessment of your health. That's what we call the ASA classification . When you hear this, you might feel a little scared, like, "Oh, are you going to give me a score?" But it's actually something that helps your doctor treat you in the best, safest way possible. So, let's talk a little more about this, shall we?

What is the ASA classification? Why is it important?

Simply put, the ASA Physical Status Classification System is a system for assessing your overall health before undergoing surgery that requires anesthesia. It was developed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) . Imagine if every anesthesiologist used the same criteria to assess patients, wouldn't everyone get the same information? That's one of the purposes of this system.

There are several main reasons for using this classification:

• Before your surgery Keep a record of your health : This will give you a clear record of your health status before undergoing surgery.
• A common method that every anesthesiologist can use: No matter where you are in the world, when you talk to anesthesiologists about a patient's health status, they can all get a rough idea of ​​it by telling them this ASA number.
• Helps to assess the risks of surgery: This alone cannot tell you the risk. However, when combined with other factors such as your age, the nature of the surgery being performed, how big it is, and how long it will take, it helps to predict the potential complications of surgery.

Important to remember: This ASA classification is not a prediction of the outcome of your surgery. While it can help you assess the risks of surgery, The medical team makes decisions after considering many other factors. So don't be alarmed by this number.

Who is this ASA?

ASA is an acronym for the American Society of Anesthesiologists . This classification system was originally introduced in 1941, when the organization was formerly known as the American Society of Anesthetists. It has been used by doctors around the world ever since.

How is this ASA classified? What are the levels?

In this ASA classification, there are six levels (up to VI) from Roman numerals I (one) to V (five). ASA I is the healthiest person. ASA V is someone with a serious life-threatening illness. Level VI is for brain-dead patients who are being removed for organ donation (organ donors).

Let's see what each of these grades generally means. You Depending on the hospital where the treatment is provided, these examples may vary slightly depending on their specialization.

• ASA I: A completely healthy person. This means that someone is in good health, without any serious illness or chronic disease. For example, someone who has no illness and is undergoing surgery for a minor cut on their arm or an emergency condition such as appendicitis.

• ASA II: A person with mild systemic disease . That is, a person with a minor health problem that does not interfere with daily activities and can be controlled. Examples: well-controlled Diabetes Mellitus, well-controlled Hypertension, obesity (BMI between 30-40), a smoker (without major complications), a pregnant mother (without complications).

• ASA III: A person with severe systemic disease . This disease may have some limitations in daily activities. But it is not immediately life-threatening. Examples: uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a heart attack within the past 3 months, moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease , and dialysis.

• ASA IV: A person with a severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life . These people are usually in a relatively critical condition. Examples: A person who has had a recent (less than 3 months) heart attack or stroke, a person with severe valvular dysfunction, reduced ejection fraction, severe sepsis, or a person with kidney failure (not on dialysis).

• ASA V: A moribund patient who is likely to die within the next 24 hours, regardless of whether surgery is performed . The surgery is intended to save their life, but the success rate is uncertain. Examples: A sudden, life-threatening condition such as a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, a person with multiple organ damage from a major accident (massive trauma), or a person with a massive intracranial bleed with mass effect.

• ASA VI: A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes. Their organs are harvested for transplantation into other patients.

When is this ASA classification used?

When you have a scheduled surgery, the medical team will assign you an ASA classification on the day of surgery, just before you are given anesthesia. The reason for this is to have the most accurate and up-to-date information about your health at that time. For example, if you have a cold a few days before your surgery, that could affect your assessment. So it is best to do it at the last minute.

Who is this anesthesiologist?

An anesthesiologist is a doctor who is specially trained to give you anesthetic medications to make you feel no pain during surgery. Some anesthetic medications numb only a part of your body (for example, a spinal injection). Other medications put you completely to sleep, especially during major, complex surgeries. The anesthesiologist will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing throughout the surgery to make sure you don't feel any pain.

So, this ASA classification is something that helps your anesthesiologist plan the exact anesthesia that will be needed for your surgery. It may sound strange to hear someone "grading" your health condition. But it's just a record-keeping system used to give you the best treatment and to tailor everything to your needs. It doesn't determine the risk of your surgery by itself. There are many other factors that go into that.

So, what should we remember from this? (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so, from what we've talked about in this ASA classification, these are the most important things for you:

• The ASA classification is a system by which anesthesiologists assess your health before surgery. It was introduced by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) .
• The main goals of this are to keep a record of your health status, introduce a common method that all doctors can use, and help assess the risks of surgery.
• This has grades ranging from ASA I (healthy) to ASA VI (brain-dead organ donor).
• Don't be alarmed by this "grade." This is not a prediction of the outcome of your surgery, nor is it a label that your health is poor.
• Doctors determine the risk by combining this classification with other factors, such as your age and the nature of the surgery.
• Ultimately, all of this is done to help you have the safest and most appropriate anesthesia possible and make the surgery a success.

So, if you are scheduled to have surgery, and the doctors talk about your ASA level, now you have a better understanding of it, right? If you have any more questions in your mind, don't be afraid to ask your doctor or anesthesiologist. They will explain everything to you.

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