Anesthetic classification and surgical casuistic of dogs seen at a teaching veterinary clinic

The classification proposed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classifies patients according to anesthetic risk into five categories, ranging from healthy to very severe patients. Because of this, it is an essential tool to ensure the safety of patients undergoing a surgical procedure. The use of this classification allows the anesthesiologist to be prepared for possible complications and to predict the patient's real prognosis. The objective of the article was to carry out a retrospective study in a teaching veterinary clinic (CEV), analyzing medical records of dogs undergoing surgical procedures for two years, in order to verify the casuistry of each ASA category and the main surgical procedures carried out at CEV. Within the period studied, 810 patients were classified. The ASA I category included 166 animals (20.49%; 166/810). The ASA II category had 212 dogs (26.17%; 212/810). The ASA III category included 320 animals (39.50%; 320/810). The ASA IV category had 91 patients (11.23%; 91/810) and the ASA V category included 21 patients (2.59%; 21/ 810). The total number of deaths corresponded to 16 cases (1.97%; 16/810), affecting animals from ASA III or higher. The most frequent surgical procedures were ovariohysterectomy, fracture correction and mastectomy. It was concluded that the largest sample of dogs undergoing surgical procedures was ASA III patients and the most common surgical procedures were therapeutic.