ASA Physical Status Classification MCQ — NEET PG Practice Question | NEETPGAI
ASA Physical Status Classification
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syringe Anesthesia
Which clinical feature best distinguishes an ASA Class II patient from an ASA Class I patient during pre-anesthetic evaluation?
A. Presence of a mild systemic disease with no functional limitation
B. Complete absence of any organic pathology
C. Requirement for emergency surgery within 24 hours
D. History of previous anesthesia without complications
Explanation
ASA Physical Status Classification: Class I vs Class II
Definition and Distinction
Key Point
ASA Class I patients are healthy with no organic, physiologic, biochemical, or psychiatric disease. ASA Class II patients have mild systemic disease that does not limit functional capacity.
The critical discriminator is the presence of a mild systemic disease in Class II patients, whereas Class I patients are completely healthy.
Comparative Features
Table
Feature
ASA Class I
ASA Class II
Systemic disease
Absent
Mild, well-controlled
Functional limitation
None
None
Examples
Healthy 25-year-old
Controlled hypertension, mild asthma
Anesthetic risk
Minimal
Minimal to low
Perioperative morbidity
Very low
Low
Clinical Examples
ASA Class I:
Healthy adult with no medical history
No current medications
Normal vital signs and investigations
ASA Class II:
Controlled hypertension on single agent
Mild asthma (not acute)
Diabetes mellitus (well-controlled)
Obesity (BMI 30–35)
Mild anemia
Smoking history without active lung disease
High-YieldNEET PG
The key phrase is "mild systemic disease with no functional limitation." If a patient has any systemic disease, they are at least Class II, even if asymptomatic.
Clinical Pearl
A patient with well-controlled hypertension on medication is Class II, not Class I, because the presence of the disease (even if controlled) moves them out of the "healthy" category.
Why This Matters in Pre-anesthetic Evaluation
Identifying Class II status prompts:
Optimization of chronic conditions
Continuation of chronic medications
Baseline investigations (ECG, chest X-ray if indicated)
Risk stratification for perioperative complications
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