What do ASA-PS and STOP-BANG assess and guide in perioperative planning?

• A. Stop-Bang replaces ASA-PS in predicting surgical risk.
• B. These tools are used only postoperatively to evaluate pain.
• C. ASA-PS is used only for anesthesia planning.
• D. ASA-PS estimates overall surgical risk; STOP-BANG screens for OSA risk; results guide monitoring, anesthesia plan, and postoperative care.

Answer: (D)

These tools are used to plan perioperative care by assessing different aspects of risk before surgery. The ASA-PS score grades a patient’s baseline physical health on a scale from I to VI, providing an overall estimate of perioperative risk based on existing systemic diseases and functional status. It helps clinicians gauge the patient’s overall surgical risk and guide decisions about monitoring intensity, resource needs, and communication about potential complications.

STOP-BANG is a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea risk. A high STOP-BANG result signals that a patient may have sleep-disordered breathing, which can influence airway management, choices of anesthesia technique and medications, and the level of postoperative monitoring required to ensure airway patency and adequate ventilation.

Together, the results from these tools inform how to monitor the patient, tailor the anesthesia plan, and determine postoperative care needs. The ASA-PS provides the broad risk context, while STOP-BANG highlights specific airway and respiratory risk that can affect intraoperative decisions and postoperative surveillance. The other statements misstate their roles or timing—for example, STOP-BANG does not replace ASA-PS, and these tools are used preoperatively rather than solely for postoperative pain evaluation.