Statements and Practice Parameters

Request for Comments

We invite members of the public and other interested stakeholders to review and provide comments on two draft practice parameters, Guideline for Perioperative Pain Management for Orthopedic Surgeries and Advisory on Preoperative Assessment and Optimization. Please submit your comments by June 15th.

Principles

• Principles for the Ethical Practice of Anesthesiology (Revised October 15, 2025)

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Standards

• Basic Standards for Preanesthesia Care (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Standards for Postanesthesia Care

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Practice Guidelines

• Perioperative Pain Management Using Local and Regional Analgesia for Cardiothoracic Surgeries, Mastectomy, and Abdominal Surgeries (New! published January 2026, resources added February 2026)
• Practice Guideline Monitoring and Antagonism of Neuromuscular Blockade (published January 2023, resources added June 2025)
• Preoperative Fasting: Carbohydrate-containing Clear Liquids with or without Protein, Chewing Gum, and Pediatric Fasting Duration (published February 2023)
• Management of the Difficult Airway (published January 2022)
• Central Venous Access (published January 2020)
• Moderate Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (published March 2018)
• Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration (published March 2017)
• Obstetric Anesthesia (published February 2016)
• Prevention, Detection and Management of Respiratory Depression Associated with Neuraxial Opioids Administration (published March 2016)
• Perioperative Blood Management (published February 2015)
• Perioperative Management of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (published February 2014)
• Postanesthetic Care (published February 2013)
• Acute Pain Management in the Perioperative Setting (published February 2012)
• Transesophageal Echocardiography (published May 2010)
• Pulmonary Artery Catheterization (published October 2003)

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Practice Advisories & Alerts

• Perioperative Care of Older Adults Scheduled for Inpatient Surgery (New! published January 2025, resources added June 2025, November 2025)
• Perioperative Management of Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (published February 2020)
• Perioperative Visual Loss Associated with Spine Surgery (published February 2019)
• Prevention of Perioperative Peripheral Neuropathies (published January 2018)
• Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Infectious Complications Associated with Neuraxial Techniques (published April 2017)
• Anesthetic Care Related to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (published March 2015)
• Prevention and Management of Operating Room Fires (published February 2013)
• Preanesthesia Evaluation (published March 2012)
• Perioperative Management of Patients with Coronary Artery Stents (published January 2009)
• Intraoperative Awareness and Brain Function Monitoring (published April 2006)

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Expert Consensus Documents

• Statement on ASA Physical Status Classification System (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Continuum of Depth of Sedation: Definition of General Anesthesia and Levels of Sedation/Analgesia 
• Statement on Definition of "Immediately Available" When Medically Directing
• Statement on Ethical Guidelines for the Anesthesia Care of Patients with Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders
• Statement on Ambulatory Anesthesia and Surgery 
• Statement on Delineation of Clinical Privileges in Anesthesiology
• Statement on Director of Liver Transplant Anesthesia
• Principles for the Ethical Practice of Anesthesiology (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Expert Witness Qualifications and Testimony
• Statement on Increasing Relevancy and Sustainability of Anesthesiology Critical Care: An Expert Consensus
• Statement on Minimally Acceptable Continuing Medical Education in Anesthesiology
• Statement on Office-Based Anesthesia
• Statement on Neuraxial Analgesia or Anesthesia in Obstetrics 
• Statement on Patient Care in Anesthesiology
• Statement on the Management of Performance Measures by the American Society of Anesthesiologists
• Statement on Nonobstetric Surgery During Pregnancy
• Statement on Optimal Goals for Anesthesia Care in Obstetrics
• Statement on Principles for Quality Incentive Programs in Anesthesiology

Please contact guidelines@asahq.org with any questions.

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Resources from Committees

See all Resources from ASA Committees ›

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Statements

• Statement on Practice Parameters
• Statement on Pregnancy Testing Prior to Anesthesia and Surgery
• Statement on Reducing Maternal Peripartum Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Anesthesia Care
• Statement on 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule Information Blocking Compliance
• Statement on Access to Pain Care
• Statement on Adverse Event Analysis (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Burnout 
• Statement on Creating a Culture of Well-Being for Health Care Workers
• Statement on Deactivating Central Piped Nitrous Oxide to Mitigate Avoidable Health Care Pollution
• Statement on Harassment, Incivility, and Disrespect
• Statement on Human Factors Engineering and Patient Safety (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Labeling of Pharmaceuticals Used in the Practice of Anesthesiology (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Lactation Among Anesthesia Clinicians 
• Statement on Post-Dural Puncture Headache Management
• Statement on Principles Trauma Anesthesiology
• Statement on Administration of Medications (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Anesthesia Management and Support for External Cephalic Version (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Anesthesia Services Staffing Labor and Delivery (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Anesthesia Support of Postpartum Sterilization
• Statement on Anesthesiologist Head Injuries in Anesthetizing Locations
• Statement on Anesthesiologists' Role in Reducing Maternal Mortality and Severe Maternal Morbidity
• Statement on Antenatal Anesthesiology Consultation (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Compensation Equity Among Anesthesiologists
• Statement on Security of Medications in the Operating Room
• Statement on Students Involved in Anesthesia Care 
• Statement on Substance Use Disorder
• Statement on Support for Respiratory Therapists (RTs)
• Statement on Anesthetic Care during Interventional Pain Procedures for Adults 
• Statement on Comparing Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant and Certified Nurse Anesthetist Education and Practice 
• Statement on Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs): Description and Practice
• Statement on Clinical Privileges for the Non-Physician Anesthesia Practitioner
• Statement on Conflict of Interest
• Statement on Controlled Organ Donation After Circulatory Death 
• Statement on Criminalization of Medical Errors 
• Statement on Distractions (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Distinguishing Monitored Anesthesia Care ("MAC") from Moderate Sedation/Analgesia (Conscious Sedation)
• Statement on Documentation of Anesthesia Care 
• Statement on Drug Concentration Standardization
• Statement on Economic Credentialing and Contracting
• Statement on Fatigue
• Statement on Fundamentals of a Safe and Healthy Workplace for Anesthesiologists 
• Statement on Granting Privileges for Administration of Moderate Sedation to Practitioners Who are Not Anesthesia Professionals
• Statement on Granting Privileges for Deep Sedation to Non Anesthesiologist Physicians
• Statement on the Importance of the Anesthesiologist Physical Job Description (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Intravascular Catheterization Procedures
• Statement on Intravenous (IV) Fluid Bag Spiking 
• Statement on Ketamine for the Treatment of Chronic Pain
• Statement on Maintaining the Anesthesiologist Workforce by Prevention of Injuries and Knowledge of Workers’ Compensation, Disability Insurance, Return to Work Requirements, Job Safeguards, and Accommodations (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Neuraxial Medication Shortage and Alternatives 
• Statement on Neurologic Complications of Neuraxial Analgesia/Anesthesia in Obstetrics 
• Statement on Nonoperating Room Anesthesia Services
• Statement on Non-Physicians' Misuse of the Title "Resident" in Health Care Settings (New! October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Oral Intake During Labor
• Statement on Outcome Indicators for Office-Based Anesthesia and Ambulatory Surgery
• Statement on Pain During Cesarean Delivery 
• Statement on Palliative Care 
• Statement on Peer Support after Unexpected Outcomes: Treatment of the "Second Victim"
• Statement on Personal Leave 
• Statement on Anesthesiologist-Led Care (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Physician Nonparticipation in Legally Authorized Executions
• Statement on Practice of Pain Medicine (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Practice Recommendations for Pediatric Anesthesia 
• Statement on Principles for Alarm Management for Anesthesia Professionals 
• Statement on Professionalism 
• Statement on Providing Psychological Support for Obstetric Patients
• Statement on Qualifications of Anesthesia Providers in the Office Based Setting
• Statement on Quality Metrics
• Statement on Recommendations for Safe Injection Practices
• Statement on Regional Anesthesia
• Statement on Reporting Postoperative Pain Procedures in Conjunction with Anesthesia (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Respiratory Monitoring During Endoscopic Procedures
• Statement on Resuming Breastfeeding after Anesthesia
• Statement on Safe Use of Propofol
• Statement on Safety Culture 
• Statement on Sedation and Anesthesia Administration in Dental Office Based Settings 
• Statement on Smoking Cessation 
• Statement on Standard Practice for Avoidance of Medication Errors in Neuraxial Anesthesia (Revised October 15, 2025)
• Statement on Support of In Vitro Fertilization
• Statement on Surgical Attire
• Statement on Title Misappropriation
• Statement on the Aging Anesthesiologist 
• Statement on the Anesthesia Care Team
• Statement on the Ethical Considerations with Drug Shortages
• Statement on the Interoperability of Medical Devices 
• Statement on the Practice of Pediatric Pain Medicine 
• Statement on the Regulation of the Practice of Medicine by Third-Party Payors 
• Statement on the Role of Anesthesiologists in the Practice of Adult Critical Care Medicine 
• Statement on the Role of Registered Nurses in the Management of Continuous Regional Analgesia
• Statement on the Use of Adjuvant Medications and Management of Intraoperative Pain During Cesarean Delivery
• Statement on the Use of Low Gas Flows for Sevoflurane 
• Statement on Transesophageal Echocardiography 
• Statement on Respiratory Care Practitioner Credentialing
• Statement on the Medical Necessity of Anesthesiology Services

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Date of last update: May 14, 2026.

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