Understanding Anesthesiology - The Global Regional Anesthesia ...

Aldrete score
Phase 1 of recovery must be achieved before the patient is discharged to the ward or shortstay
unit. The patient must demonstrate adequacy of: ventilation and airway control; circulation;
colour; level of consciousness; and activity. The Aldrete score is a detailed scoring system
that rates the patient’s status from 0-2 on each of those five criteria.
When Phase 1 recovery is complete, the patient must:
• be showing no signs of respiratory depression
for at least 20-30 minutes after last dose
of parenteral opioids.
• be easily aroused.
• be fully oriented to person, place and time.
• be able to maintain and protect the airway
on his own with evidence of a strong cough.
It is also important that pain and post-operative nausea and vomiting be controlled prior to
PACU discharge and that there are no ongoing surgical concerns such as surgical site bleeding.
Related Glossary Terms
Analgesia, Opioids, Patency, Post-anesthetic care unit, Post-operative nausea and vomiting
(PONV), Recovery
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Chapter 4 - Recovery