A POST-ANESTHETIC DISCHARGE SCORING SYSTEM FOR HOME READINESS AFTER AMBULATORY SURGERY

Study Objective: To evaluate the validity and reliability of an object ive scoring system, the Post-Anesthetic Discharge Scoring System (PADS S), which was compared against existing Clinical Discharge Criteria in the ambulatory surgery unit of our hospital. Design: randomized, open study. Setting: Ambulatory surgery unit at a university teaching hosp ital. Patients: 247 ambulatory surgery patients undergoing general ane sthesia. Interventions: One hour after the operation, the initial asse ssment 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. Measurements and Mai n Results: There was a close correlation between the end of anesthesia to time patients were fit for discharge wing either PADSS or the Clin ical Discharge Criteria (Pearson's Correlation Coefficient r = 0.89). The internal consistency reliability of PADSS (alpha = 0.65) was super ior to that of the Clinical Discharge Criteria (alpha = 0.14). Conclus ions: We have found PADSS to have superior measurement scaling and dia gnostic properties.