Social drinking is PS 2?

[gasgirl63]

---

Members do not see this ad.

It was just brought to my attention that there was a publication last year from the ASA with new examples to define physical status. Apparently, social drinking makes one a PS2. Really? Someone who has a glass of wine with dinner is in the same classification as a smoker or someone with a bmi between 30 and 40? As I sit here drinking a nice glass of wine before bed, I am taking this personally. Studies show a decreased risk of heart disease, PVD, and DM in moderate drinkers. No studies that I am aware of show a health benefit to smoking or obesity. What was the ASA thinking?
http://www.asahq.org/~/media/sites/...asa-physical-status-classification-system.pdf

 

[amyl]

Supposedly the definition of social drinking is 2 or less drinks per day. To me that is too broad. The person who has a glass of wine with dinner or the like on weekends shouldn't be in the same category as someone who has two drinks seven days a week. The former would be ps1 the later ps2... 14 drinks in a week is a lot imho.

 

[GA8314]

Not to be a buzz kill, but as a general rule people aren't doing as well with ETOH as they think. I know lots of people that drink way too much but really don't believe it. And, these are not "drunks" or alcoholics. Just people that think they're moderating way more than is the reality...... Just something to reflect upon.

 

[Planktonmd]

Why is it so important if they are ASA 1 or ASA 2???

 

[Fajardo04]

I would make them an ASA 1, assuming that was the only thing in their history. On a side note, they also give an example of a patient who is on chronic hemodialysis of being a class 3. I'm sorry, but if a patient has an entire organ system that has failed, that patient is getting a class 4 from me.

 

[Docuronium]

Why is it so important if they are ASA 1 or ASA 2???

I believe there are billing implications though this memo in particular says Medicare and Medicaid don't differentiate: http://anesthesiapmc.com/compliance/asa-compliance/

 

[Twiggidy]

This just makes me think of all the "new money" house wives I take care off out here in winelands who say they drink "1 or 2 glasses of wine a week" and then you give them 2 of versed and a vial of propofol and can't put them to sleep.

The whole "number of drinks" thing is so interesting to me because of the stigma that the different TYPES of drinks get, again, especially out here in wine world. Think of the way someone is viewed if it they say they have "2 glasses of wine/night" vs "2 beers/night" vs "2 scotches/night". Some people would definitely call the first a social drinker and the later 2 a borderline drunk.


Back to OP
IMHO, someone who has 2 drinks a night is just a normal person who is just living life and enjoying every minute of it. So long as there's no medical issues......ASA 1. Now if they tell me they can't go through the week without having 2 drinks per night, that's an alcoholic and that's an ASA2 maybe 3 if you want to be technical.

 

[OB1🤙]

If a couple drinks a night makes you an ASA 2, well, more often than not I'm a 5E.

I kid, I kid. I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

 

[pgg]

I was at a neighborhood BBQ last night and some clown brought out a tray of jello shots.

Haven't seen those since I was in college. Ah, memories.

I don't feel like an ASA 1 this morning.

 

[DreamLover]

I would make them an ASA 1, assuming that was the only thing in their history. On a side note, they also give an example of a patient who is on chronic hemodialysis of being a class 3. I'm sorry, but if a patient has an entire organ system that has failed, that patient is getting a class 4 from me.

Yep, it's Always a sore spot. I consider being dependent for life on dialysis as a "constant threat to life" this an ASA 4 but some people certainly feel otherwise.