Reliability of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status scale in clinical practice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies, which relied on hypothetical cases and chart reviews, have questioned the inter-rater reliability of the ASA physical status (ASA-PS) scale. We therefore conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate its inter-rater reliability and validity in clinical practice.

Methods

The cohort included all adult patients (≥18 yr) who underwent elective non-cardiac surgery at a quaternary-care teaching institution in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from March 2010 to December 2011. We assessed inter-rater reliability by comparing ASA-PS scores assigned at the preoperative assessment clinic vs the operating theatre. We also assessed the validity of the ASA-PS scale by measuring its association with patients' preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcome

SUBMITTER: Sankar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4136425 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature