Medical Emergencies · patient case question
What ASA classification applies?
Patient case: Healthy patient with a previous tonsillectomy
Scenario: A HEALTHY patient with a history of TONSILLECTOMY.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. ASA I
- A. Correct. A tonsillectomy is a RESOLVED past surgical procedure, not an ongoing systemic disease. A healthy patient with no current systemic disease is ASA I regardless of previous uncomplicated surgery.
- B. ASA III is SEVERE systemic disease with functional limitation — poorly controlled diabetes or hypertension, COPD, morbid obesity, a myocardial infarction or stroke more than three months ago, or a cardiac pacemaker.
- C. ASA II is MILD systemic disease without functional limitation — well-controlled hypertension or diabetes, pregnancy, current smoking, obesity with BMI 30-40, or well-controlled asthma.
- D. ASA IV is severe systemic disease that is a CONSTANT THREAT TO LIFE — unstable angina, recent MI or stroke within three months, or severe valve dysfunction.
Note: The trap in this item is the surgical HISTORY. Past resolved procedures do not raise ASA classification; only current systemic disease does.
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