In the preoperative clinic you assess functional capacity in metabolic equivalents (METs) to judge cardiac fitness. Which reported ability best indicates a capacity of at least 4 METs?

• A Walking on level ground inside the house for a few minutes
• B Washing dishes while seated
• C Dressing and bathing independently
• D Climbing two flights of stairs without stopping ✓

Explanation

Two flights of stairs corresponds roughly to 4 METs, the accepted threshold separating adequate from poor functional capacity in perioperative cardiac evaluation. Patients below 4 METs have higher perioperative event rates and merit closer risk assessment, possibly with pharmacological stress imaging if other RCRI factors coexist. Self-care activities such as dressing, bathing, indoor walking, and light housework sit around 1 to 3 METs and indicate poor reserve. Stair climbing is the simplest bedside discriminator.

Reference: Morgan and Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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