Aldrete score
Pronunciation: al-DREH-tay
A standardised post-anesthesia recovery scoring system that assesses a patient's readiness for discharge from the recovery area based on five physiological criteria.
Full Definition
The Aldrete score (formally the Post-Anesthetic Recovery Score) evaluates five parameters—activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation—each scored 0–2, for a maximum of 10. A score of 9 or above typically indicates readiness for phase-I recovery discharge in dental anesthesiology settings. Editors should note that 'Aldrete' is always capitalised as it is an eponym derived from the name of its developer, Dr. J. Antonio Aldrete. It must be distinguished from the modified Aldrete score, which is a revision to the original 1970 scale. The tool is commonly referenced in discharge criteria sections of anesthesia records and clinical protocols.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalise 'Aldrete' as an eponym. Distinguish between the original Aldrete score and the modified Aldrete score; they use different parameters and should not be used interchangeably in documentation.
In Context
- "The patient achieved an Aldrete score of 9 within 20 minutes of procedure completion, meeting criteria for transfer to phase-II recovery." — Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) record
- "The manuscript incorrectly applied the original Aldrete score criteria when the modified version had been used; this required correction throughout." — Peer-review editorial note