What is an Aldrete score?

An Aldrete score is a method used to determine if a patient is ready to be discharged to a less-intensive area of the hospital after recovery from anesthesia. The main criteria used to determine the level of a patient's recovery include consciousness, blood pressure, color, respiration and activity.

Gauging the patient's reflexes is a good way to monitor activity. All of the criteria are taken into consideration when assigning an Aldrete score. The score uses numbers on a scale of zero to 10. A score of less than seven doesn't result in discharge, but it does result less frequent monitoring of the vital signs. Scores of eight and nine are ideal for discharge.