A post-anesthetic discharge scoring system for home readiness after ambulatory surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the validity and reliability of an objective scoring system, the Post-Anesthetic Discharge Scoring System (PADSS), which was compared against existing Clinical Discharge Criteria in the ambulatory surgery unit of our hospital.


METHODS
randomized, open study.


METHODS
Ambulatory surgery unit at a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
247 ambulatory surgery patients undergoing general anesthesia.


METHODS
One hour after the operation, the initial assessment using PADSS and the Clinical Discharge Criteria was made by an independent observer. Evaluations were repeated at 30-minute intervals until patients obtained a Post-Anesthetic Discharge Score of at least 9 and fulfilled the Clinical Discharge Criteria.


RESULTS
There was a close correlation between the end of anesthesia to time patients were fit for discharge using either PADSS or the Clinical Discharge Criteria (Pearson's Correlation Coefficient r = 0.89). The internal consistency reliability of PADSS (alpha = 0.65) was superior to that of the Clinical Discharge Criteria (alpha = 0.14).


CONCLUSIONS
We have found PADSS to have superior measurement scaling and diagnostic properties.
Department of Anaesthesia, Toronto Western Division, Toronto Hospital, Canada.
F
F
Chung
V W
VW
Chan
D
D
Ong
D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000758:Anesthesia; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D013689:Telephone; D014797:Vital Capacity