The Patient's Condition Score (PCS) assessed the condition of the patient on admission to the PACU. Almost a quarter of patients (22%) were brought to the PACU unconscious and in the supine position and were thus at risk of aspiration. Unless there is a very strong reason to keep the patient in the supine position, all unconscious patients should be transferred in the lateral position.
Vital signs and oxygen saturation are of primary importance for the patient's well-being. Therefore, the ®rst recording of the patient's heart rate, systolic blood pressure and pulse oximetry is included in the PCS. Approximately one-third of patients had an oxygen saturation value < 90% on admission to the PACU. This emphasises the importance of providing high inspired oxygen to all patients during transfer from the operating theatre to the PACU. Even patients with a clear airway immediately after termination of general anaesthesia are prone to develop hypoxia, because of the residual respiratory depressant effects