Score post-anaesthesia recovery with the modified Aldrete score across activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness and oxygen saturation.
No advanced options for this tool.
Aldrete score (out of 10)
How to use this tool
2 for moving all four limbs, 1 for two limbs, 0 for none.
Each on the same 0–2 scale against the descriptors shown.
2 if above 92% on room air, 1 if supplementary oxygen is needed to stay above 90%, 0 if below 90% despite oxygen.
9 or 10 is the usual recovery-discharge threshold, alongside local discharge criteria.
Formula & worked example
A patient moving all limbs, breathing deeply, with blood pressure within 20 mmHg of baseline, fully awake and saturating above 92% on room air scores 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10 — ready for discharge from recovery.
Limitations — read this before you rely on it
The Aldrete score covers recovery physiology only; it does not assess pain, nausea, surgical bleeding, or fitness to go home alone, all of which also gate discharge. Scoring is bedside judgement, not a laboratory result. This tool supports clinical use and is not medical advice for individual patients.
Frequently asked questions
A 0–10 recovery score used after anaesthesia to judge readiness to leave the post-anaesthesia care unit.
Usually 9 or 10, plus local criteria such as controlled pain and nausea and a responsible escort.
The version that scores oxygen saturation instead of skin colour, which is more objective and works across skin tones.
Yes — surgical or medical concerns (bleeding, pain, vomiting) can keep a patient in recovery regardless of the score.
Its validated setting is post-anaesthesia recovery; it is not a general ward or home-discharge score.