Table 1 Sedation–agitation scale (SAS)
Score | Term | Patients’ behavior |
|---|---|---|
7 | Dangerous agitation | Pulling at endotracheal tube, trying to remove catheters, climbing over bed rail, striking at staff, thrashing from side to side |
6 | Very agitated | Does not calm down despite frequent verbal reminders, requires physical restraints, bites endotracheal tube |
5 | Agitated | Anxious or mildly agitated, attempting to sit up, calms down with verbal instructions |
4 | Calm and cooperative | Calm, awakens easily, follows commands |
3 | Sedated | Difficult to arouse, awakens to verbal stimuli or gentle shaking but drifts off again, follows simple commands |
2 | Very sedated | Arouses to physical stimuli but does not communicate or follow commands, may move spontaneously |
1 | Unarousable | Minimal or no response to noxious stimuli, does not communicate or follow commands |