Classification of patients according to the degree of dependence on nursing care and illness severity in a post-anesthesia care unit.

This study aimed to classify patients according to their degree of dependence on nursing care (Perroca Classification System) and correlate this with the anesthetic risk (American Society of Anesthesiologists--ASA classification) in a post-anesthesia care unit. A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 402 patients, mean age 51.57 (±16.73) years, of which 216 (54%) were female. The results indicate that patients had a degree of dependence between intermediate and semi-intensive with an ASA classification of between two and three. There was a significant relationship between degree of dependence and ASA classification. The results indicate that the post-anesthesia care unit admits patients with semi-intensive care requirements and with moderate anesthetic risk.