Aldrete Score Calculator (modified post-anaesthesia recovery score)

Understanding the Aldrete score calculator — concept and principle

This calculator adds up the modified Aldrete score, a 0–10 rating of recovery after anaesthesia, from five items: activity, breathing, circulation, consciousness and oxygen saturation. It shows whether the usual threshold of 9 for leaving the recovery room is met. Recovery-room nurses, anaesthesia trainees and students use it.

Five checks, 0–2 each — with the default inputs: 9 of 10.

How it is calculated

Each item scores 0, 1 or 2; the total is 0–10.

Activity: moves all four limbs on command (2), two limbs (1), none (0)
Breathing: breathes deeply and coughs freely (2), short of breath or shallow (1), not breathing (0)
Circulation: blood pressure within 20% of the pre-anaesthesia value (2), 20–49% different (1), 50% or more (0)
Consciousness: fully awake (2), wakes when called (1), not responding (0)
Oxygen saturation: above 92% on room air (2), needs oxygen to stay above 90% (1), below 90% even with oxygen (0)

A total of 9 or more is the usual condition for discharge from the post-anaesthesia care unit.

The principle

Aldrete and Kroulik introduced the score in 1970 to make recovery assessment systematic. It checks the main functions affected by anaesthetics: movement, breathing, blood pressure and alertness. In 1995 Aldrete replaced the original colour item with oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry, which is more objective. Each item has the same weight, so the total gives a quick overview.

Worked example

Defaults: activity 2, breathing 2, circulation 2, consciousness 1 (wakes when called), oxygen saturation 2.

Score = 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 9.
9 or more: Yes, ready for discharge from recovery by this criterion.
Points below 10 = 1.

How to read the result

Where does your result fall?

A score of 9 or more means the patient meets the Aldrete criterion, but units also check pain, nausea, bleeding, the surgical site and other local criteria before discharge. A lower score means more observation is needed, and the score is repeated at intervals.

Common mistakes

Comparing blood pressure with a value taken under anaesthesia instead of before.
Scoring oxygen saturation while the patient is still on oxygen as if on room air.
Treating 9 as the only requirement for discharge.
Using the original colour item and saturation together.

Keep in mind: This is a clinical scoring aid for trained staff, not medical advice. Discharge decisions follow the unit's protocol and clinical judgement.

Frequently asked questions

What Aldrete score is needed for discharge from recovery?

Usually 9 or more, together with other unit criteria.

What changed in the modified score?

Oxygen saturation replaced skin colour in 1995.

How often is the score repeated?

At intervals set by the unit until the criteria are met.

Sources: Aldrete JA, Kroulik D, "A postanesthetic recovery score", Anesth Analg 1970;49(6):924–934 · Aldrete JA, "The post-anesthesia recovery score revisited", J Clin Anesth 1995;7(1):89–91

Checked 9 Nov 2026. Aldrete JA, Kroulik D, “A postanesthetic recovery score”, Anesth Analg 1970;49(6):924–934; Aldrete JA, “The post-anesthesia recovery score revisited”, J Clin Anesth 1995;7(1):89–91 (oxygen saturation item); item descriptions and the ≥ 9 discharge threshold as summarised in the Wikipedia article “Aldrete’s scoring system”.

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