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STANDARDS FOR BASIC ANESTHETIC MONITORING
Committee of Origin: Standards and Practice Parameters
(Approved by the ASA House of Delegates on October 21, 1986, last amended on
October 20, 2010, and last affirmed on October 28, 2015)
These standards apply to all anesthesia care although, in emergency circumstances, appropriate
life support measures take precedence. These standards may be exceeded at any time based on
the judgment of the responsible anesthesiologist. They are intended to encourage quality patient
care, but observing them cannot guarantee any specific patient outcome. They are subject to
revision from time to time, as warranted by the evolution of technology and practice. They apply
to all general anesthetics, regional anesthetics and monitored anesthesia care. This set of
standards addresses only the issue of basic anesthetic monitoring, which is one component of
anesthesia care. In certain rare or unusual circumstances, 1) some of these methods of monitoring
may be clinically impractical, and 2) appropriate use of the described monitoring methods may
fail to detect untoward clinical developments. Brief interruptions of continual† monitoring may
be unavoidable. These standards are not intended for application to the care of the obstetrical
patient in labor or in the conduct of pain management.
1. STANDARD I
Qualified anesthesia personnel shall be present in the room throughout the conduct of all general
anesthetics, regional anesthetics and monitored anesthesia care.
1.1 Objective –
Because of the rapid changes in patient status during anesthesia, qualified anesthesia
personnel shall be continuously present to monitor the patient and provide anesthesia
care. In the event there is a direct known hazard, e.g., radiation, to the anesthesia
personnel which might require intermittent remote observation of the patient, some
provision for monitoring the patient must be made. In the event that an emergency
requires the temporary absence of the person primarily responsible for the anesthetic, the
best judgment of the anesthesiologist will be exercised in comparing the emergency with
the anesthetized patient’s condition and in the selection of the person left responsible for
the anesthetic during the temporary absence.
2. STANDARD II
During all anesthetics, the patient’s oxygenation, ventilation, circulation and temperature shall be
continually evaluated.
FROM: Committee on Standards and Practice Parameters 409-1.3 (PA)
SUBJECT: Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring Page 2
DATE: March 8, 2015 FOR BOD / HOD INFORMATION
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2.1 Oxygenation –
2.1.1 Objective –
To ensure adequate oxygen concentration in the inspired gas and the blood during all
anesthetics.
2.2 Methods –
2.2.1 Inspired gas: During every administration of general anesthesia using an
anesthesia machine, the concentration of oxygen in the patient breathing system
shall be measured by an oxygen analyzer with a low oxygen concentration limit
alarm in use.*
2.2.2 Bl...
