Under MHS policy, which patient is a candidate for Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)?

Under MHS policy, which patient is a candidate for Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)?

• A. ASA Class IV or V
• B. ASA Class II
• C. ASA Class I
• D. No ASA classification

Answer: (A)

Monitored Anesthesia Care is used when you want to provide sedation with continuous monitoring and the ability to deepen anesthesia or convert to general anesthesia if needed, while avoiding the risks of a full GA. In the Military Health System policy, candidates for MAC include patients with severe, life-threatening systemic disease (ASA IV) or moribund patients (ASA V) when the planned procedure is minor and airway management may be avoided unless necessary. The emphasis is on minimizing systemic risk while keeping vigilant monitoring and the option to escalate if instability occurs. Healthier patients (ASA I or II) typically do not require MAC under this policy, and an unknown ASA status (no classification) is not sufficient to identify a MAC candidate. Therefore, the patient with ASA IV or V is the best fit.

Monitored Anesthesia Care is used when you want to provide sedation with continuous monitoring and the ability to deepen anesthesia or convert to general anesthesia if needed, while avoiding the risks of a full GA. In the Military Health System policy, candidates for MAC include patients with severe, life-threatening systemic disease (ASA IV) or moribund patients (ASA V) when the planned procedure is minor and airway management may be avoided unless necessary. The emphasis is on minimizing systemic risk while keeping vigilant monitoring and the option to escalate if instability occurs. Healthier patients (ASA I or II) typically do not require MAC under this policy, and an unknown ASA status (no classification) is not sufficient to identify a MAC candidate. Therefore, the patient with ASA IV or V is the best fit.