A moribund patient not expected to survive with an operation falls under which classification?

A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without an operation is classified as a PS5 (Physical Status 5) according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification system. This classification is used to evaluate the overall health status of a patient before undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

A PS5 designation indicates that the patient has a severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life. In this scenario, the patient is critically ill and is not expected to make it without intervention, which aligns with the PS5 classification. This highlights the urgency and seriousness of their condition, emphasizing the need for surgical intervention despite the high risk involved.

Other classifications do not accurately reflect the critical status of a moribund patient. For example, PS4 (severe systemic disease), while serious, usually implies that the patient has a significant chance of survival with surgery and does not have the same immediate life-threatening condition as a PS5 patient. Similarly, PS2 and PS1 classifications denote a lower risk and better physical status, which does not align with a patient in a moribund state.