ASA Physical Status Classification System Research Articles

Individualised risk scoring in elective colorectal surgery: Why don’t we do it?

Background: National guidelines recommend that all patients having major elective surgery should have a risk estimate communicated to them.1 Several well validated Individualised Risk Scores (IRS) are available to facilitate this.2 Not all patients seem to receive a personalised risk assessment when having elective colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons behind this. Methods: An electronic survey was circulated to all general surgeons and anaesthetists (trainees and consultants) at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Participants had 1 month to respond and received a reminder email at 3 weeks. Ethical approval for this study was gained from the University of Leeds Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC21-073). Results: There were 43 respondents, 33 of whom assess patients for elective colorectal surgery. Seven were surgeons and 26 were anaesthetists; 80% were consultants. Whereas 66% provide an overall estimate of risk to patients, only 55% use IRSs (Fig. 5). Preferred IRS included SORT, P-POSSUM, ACS NSQIP (Surgical Outcome Risk Tool, Portsmouth - Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity, American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, National Emergency Laparotomy Audit) risk calculator, NELA risk calculator and the ASA physical status classification system. Conclusion: Half of respondents do not use IRS. The tools used are heterogeneous and not necessarily validated for this population and context. Clarity is needed regarding which tools to use in this population and what information to present to patients. An improved understanding of clinicians’ perceptions of IRS is required to design appropriate implementation solutions.

American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status Classification As An Independent Risk Factor of Surgical Site Infection After Infra-Inguinal Arterial Bypass.

The present study aimed to assess whether high-risk American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)-Physical Status was an independent risk factor for the development of surgical site infection (SSI) after infra-inguinal lower extremity bypass (LEB). The ASA-Physical Status Classification System assesses the overall physical status preoperatively. ASA-Physical Status is associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, limited data are available on how ASA-Physical Status Class affects the development of SSI after infra-inguinal LEB. Patients who had undergone infra-inguinal LEB from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018, for obliterative arteriopathy or popliteal aneurysm at our university hospital were included. SSI risk factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression. The length of hospital stay, major limb events (MALE), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and all-cause mortality were compared for patients with SSI versus those without SSI 3 months and 1- year of follow-up after the index surgery. Among the 267 patients included, 30 (11.2%) developed SSI during the 3-month period and 32 (12%) at 1 year. ASA-Physical Status ≥3 [odds ratio (OR): 3.7, 95% confidence interval CI) 1.5-11.1], emergency surgery (OR: 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.0), general anesthesia (OR: 2.8, 95% CI 1.3-6.1), and procedure performed by a junior surgeon (OR: 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-6.0) were independently associated with SSI. At 3 months and 1 year, SSI was significantly associated with MALE (including surgical wound debridement, subsequent thrombectomy, major amputation), length of hospital stay, and all-cause mortality. The ASA-Physical Status should be considered in medical management when an infra-inguinal LEB is considered in frail patients, to prevent surgical complications.

MO480: Predictive Ability of Clinical Assessment Tools For >2 Weeks in-Hospital Stay Following Hip Fracture in Patients Living With CKD: Insights From a 7-Year Prospective Analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Individuals living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at greater risk of sustaining hip fractures compared with the general population. Following acute trauma, CKD patients are susceptible to lengthened hospitalization with their clinical condition exacerbated by frailty, co-morbidities and sarcopaenia. The most useful clinical assessment tools to predict lengthened in-hospital stays in patients with CKD following admission with hip fracture remain unestablished. METHOD Patients with CKD G3b-5 admitted from home to a tertiary centre hospital in North West UK with hip fracture between Jun 2013 and Jun 2020 were evaluated. Lengthened hospitalization is determined by >2 weeks of in-hospital stay in our analysis, given the average length of in-hospital stay is ∼14 days for the CKD population following hip fracture. Clinical assessment tools used in admission assessment for each patient included the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Charlson's Co-morbidity Index (CCI), Chronic Kidney Disease Frailty Index Laboratory Score (CKD FI-LAB), Karnofsky's Performance Status Scale, Sernbo Score, Nottingham Hip Fracture Score, Estimated VO2 Peak, ASA Physical Status Classification System Score and the Abbreviated Mental Test Score. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to evaluate the ability of individual clinical assessment tools to predict for >2 weeks of in-hospital stay in patients with CKD admitted following hip fracture. RESULTS A total of 539 patients with CKDG3b-5 were admitted following hip fracture throughout the study period, of which 329 patients had >2 weeks of in-hospital stay. Within the cohort with >2 weeks of in-hospital stay, mean age was 84.4 ± 10.6 years. The female: male ratio was 1.6:1. Of those, 47 patients (14.3%) were on long-term dialysis. For this cohort, 30-day, 6-month and 1-year mortality were 6.7%, 14.9% and 43.2%, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) for 30-day {OR: 1.71, [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.04–2.39]; P < .01}, 6-month (OR: 2.06, 95% CI 1.38–2.73; P < .01) and 1-year mortality (OR: 2.62, 95% CI 1.95–3.30; P < .01) was significantly higher in CKD patients with > 2 weeks of in-hospital stay following hip fracture compared with those who were discharged within the first 2 weeks of hospitalization. Area Under the Curve (AUC) values from ROC analyses for individual clinical assessment tools are shown in Table 1. CONCLUSION Frailty and co-morbidity clinical assessment tools (CFS, CCI and CKD FI-LAB) displayed the best predictive ability for lengthened in-hospital stays in patients living with CKD admitted following hip fracture. CKD patients with lengthened in-hospital stays following hip fracture have greater risks of acute in-hospital mortality and mortality over the short- to medium-term following discharge. Research initiatives should continue to evaluate multidisciplinary management strategies for the older CKD population following acute trauma. Reducing the length of hospitalization may improve survival outcomes and alleviate costs and public health burdens in the care of the older CKD population.

Risk-adjusted mortality in severely injured adult trauma patients in Sweden

BackgroundRisk-adjusted mortality (RAM) analysis and comparisons of clinically relevant subsets of trauma patients allow hospitals to assess performance in different processes of care. The aim of the study was to develop a RAM model and compare RAM ratio (RAMR) in subsets of severely injured adult patients treated in university hospitals (UHs) and emergency hospitals (EHs) in Sweden.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of the Swedish trauma registry data (2013 to 2017) comparing RAMR in patients (aged 15 years or older and New Injury Severity Score (NISS) of more than 15) in the total population (TP) and in multisystem blunt (MB), truncal penetrating (PEN), and severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) subsets treated in UHs and EHs. The RAM model included the variables age, NISS, ASA Physical Status Classification System Score, and physiology on arrival.ResultsIn total, 6690 patients were included in the study (4485 from UHs and 2205 from EHs). The logistic regression model showed a good fit. RAMR was 4.0, 3.8, 7.4, and 8.5 percentage points lower in UH versus EH for TP (P < 0.001), MB (P < 0.001), PEN (P = 0.096), and STBI (P = 0.005), respectively. The TP and MB subsets were subgrouped in with (+) and without (−) traumatic brain injury (TBI). RAMR was 7.5 and 7.0, respectively, percentage points lower in UHs than in EHs in TP + TBI and MB + TBI (both P < 0.001). In the TP–TBI (P = 0.027) and MB–TBI (P = 0.107) subsets the RAMR was 1.6 and 1.8 percentage points lower, respectively.ConclusionThe lower RAMR in UHs versus EH were due to differences in TBI-related mortality. No evidence supported that Swedish EHs provide inferior quality of care for trauma patients without TBI or for patients with penetrating injuries.

Physical Status and Qualifying Circumstances

Payment & Practice Management| December 2021 Physical Status and Qualifying Circumstances Sharon K. Merrick, MS, CCS-P Sharon K. Merrick, MS, CCS-P Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar ASA Monitor December 2021, Vol. 85, 38. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000803364.48940.0e Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Sharon K. Merrick; Physical Status and Qualifying Circumstances. ASA Monitor 2021; 85:38 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000803364.48940.0e Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsASA Monitor Search Advanced Search Topics: health status As anesthesiologists and their practice administrators and billing departments know all too well, there is a very big difference between Medicare and commercial payers when it comes to payment for anesthesia services. The October 2021 edition of the ASA Monitor includes the results of the 2021 commercial conversion factor (CF) survey. Those results demonstrate that the gap between the Medicare anesthesia CF and the mean and median commercial CFs continues to widen. There are other differences as well, and we will discuss two of them in this column: Physical Status and Qualifying Circumstances. Information about physical status assignment is included in the ASA statement titled “ASA Physical Status Classification System.” That document provides examples to guide the anesthesiologist in determining a patient's physical status as a clinical judgment. There are also billing and payment implications that are covered in the ASA Relative Value Guide® (RVG™). Medicare does not recognize... You do not currently have access to this content.

TP10.2.3Restarting Elective Orthopaedic Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences and Patient Outcomes

AimThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in postponing all non- emergency elective surgeries from April 2020. Restarting elective orthopaedic surgery is important to help people with chronic disabilities. Our hospital successfully restarted elective orthopaedic surgery during the pandemic to help improve the quality of life of patients.This study describes the development of local protocols and pathways to allow for a safe restart of elective orthopaedic surgery in a COVID-19 free ‘green’ site. It also includes the morbidity and mortality outcomes of those patients who underwent non-emergency orthopaedic operations during this time.MethodsA prospective cohort study evaluating patients undergoing non- emergency orthopaedic procedures through a COVID-19 free surgical pathway in a National Health Service acute general hospital in the United Kingdom from 18th May 2020- 10th July 2020. 104 patients were identified and their outcomes during the 2 week post-operative period was recorded.ResultsNo patients developed COVID-19 infection in the two-week post-operative period. There were no intensive care unit admissions or in- hospital deaths during our study time frame. There was no statistical difference found in the development of complications for age (< 70 or >70), gender, body mass index or ASA physical status classification system grades.ConclusionsThis study describes a roadmap to setting up a protocolised elective operating service for orthopaedic surgery. It has shown that standardised protocols in a COVID-19 free ‘green’ site, pre-operative COVID-19 testing and adherence to national guidelines on self-isolation can help prevent developing COVID-19 infection post-operatively.

P.120 ASA grading in obstetrics: Too laborious to deliver?

Introduction: The American Society of Anaesthesiologists – Physical Status (ASA -PS) grading is an internationally recognised tool used to stratify the baseline status of sick patients. The Society states that ’although pregnancy is not a disease, the parturient’s physiologic state is significantly altered from when the woman is not pregnant’. In 2014, the ASA-PS was amended with added examples and further amended in October 2019 [1] ASA Physical Status Classification System developed by: ASA House of Delegates/Executive Committee Last Amended: October 23, 2019 (original approval: October 15, 2014). www.asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/asa-physical -status - classification-system. Google Scholar and December 2020 [2] ASA Physical Status Classification System developed by: ASA House of Delegates/Executive Committee Last Amended: December 13, 2020 (original approval: October 15, 2014). www.asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/asa-physical-status - classification-system. Google Scholar subsequently with examples relevant to the parturient state. We aimed to assess the knowledge and understanding of the latest ASA-PS grading amongst the team working in our maternity services.

MO533WHICH PARAMETERS BEST PREDICT POSITIVE COVID-19 STATUS FOLLOWING HIP FRACTURE FOR PATIENTS LIVING WITH CKD?

Background and AimsPatients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at greater susceptibility of sustaining hip fractures compared to those without CKD due to higher falls risk. Post-trauma clinical outcomes for patients living with CKD are exacerbated by frailty, co-morbidities and sarcopenia. Patients living with CKD may require lengthy hospitalization following hip fracture, considering the additional indications for extensive treatment and rehabilitation. A long hospital stay may bring greater risks of contracting COVID-19, given the magnitude of this current global pandemic. Complications from COVID-19 significantly increase mortality risks for older patients living with CKD after acute trauma, as a considerable proportion will have a poor baseline health and functional status. Our study aims to determine the most useful clinical and laboratory assessment tools to predict for a positive COVID-19 status following hospitalization with hip fracture in patients living with CKD.MethodPatients with CKDG3b-5 admitted from home to a tertiary hospital in North West UK with hip fracture between Feb and Dec 2020 were included. Each patient included in this study received at least one COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab during their hospitalization. Parameters assessed on hospital admission for each patient included Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Charlson’s Co-morbidity Index (CCI), Chronic Kidney Disease Frailty Index Laboratory Score (CKD FI-LAB), Estimated VO2 Peak, Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, Sernbo Score, Nottingham Hip Fracture Score, ASA Physical Status Classification System Score and Abbreviated Mental Test Score. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to evaluate the ability of individual parameters to predict for a positive COVID-19 status following hip fracture in patients living with CKD. Events of 30-day mortality were recorded.Results92 patients met study inclusion criteria. The mean age was 84.6±7.8 years and the female:male ratio was 1.6:1. 7 patients (7.6%) were on long-term dialysis and the mean eGFR amongst non-dialysis patients was 36.5±13.8 ml/min/1.73m2. The median length of hospitalization was 17 days. 22 patients (23.9%) tested positive for COVID-19. Area under a Curve (AUC) values from ROC analyses are shown in Table 1. The difference in 30-day mortality rate between patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and those who tested negative was +6.8% (p<0.001).ConclusionFrailty and co-morbidity assessment tools (CFS, CCI and CKD FI-LAB) displayed the best predictive ability for positive COVID-19 status following hip fracture in patients living with CKD. A continuous, holistic multi-disciplinary team approach during hospitalization for comprehensive geriatric assessment and optimization of medical co-morbidities may improve outcomes, in anticipation of a potential lengthy hospital stay. To improve prognosis, research efforts should continue to explore avenues on reducing COVID-19 rates within this patient population.MO533 Table 1:AUC values to predict for positive COVID-19 status following hip fracture in patients living with CKDPredictorAUC Value95% ClClinical Frailty Scale0.940.87-1.00Charlson’s Co-morbidity Index0.920.86-0.99Chronic Kidney Disease Frailty Index Laboratory Score0.880.81-0.95Estimated VO2 Peak0.860.79-0.92Karnofsky Performance Status Scale0.840.77-0.91Sernbo Score0.800.74-0.87Nottingham Hip Fracture Score0.770.70-0.84ASA Physical Status Classification System Score0.740.67-0.81Abbreviated Mental Test Score0.650.58-0.72

Associations between malignancy and cardiovascular complications following emergency laparotomy – A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundSystemic inflammation in patients with malignant disease has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. The pro-inflammatory perturbations following surgical trauma may further promote adverse perioperative cardiovascular events and increase the risk of patients with cancer undergoing major surgery. Our objective was to estimate the association between malignant disease and postoperative cardiovascular complications. Secondarily, we aimed to identify risk factors for postoperative cardiovascular complications. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients ≥18 years undergoing emergency laparotomy between 2010 and 2016 at Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark. Complications were graded according to Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate association between malignant disease and cardiovascular complications within 30 days of emergency laparotomy and to identify other risk factors for postoperative cardiovascular complications after emergency laparotomy. ResultsWe identified 1188 patients ≥18 years undergoing emergency laparotomy between 2010 and 2016, in which 254 (21%) had malignant disease. Within 30 days of emergency laparotomy, 89 (9.5%) of patients without malignancy died, as compared with 45 (18%) of patients with malignancy (p < 0.001). Cardiovascular death occurred in 17 (1.8%) and 5 (2.0%) patients in the non-malignant and malignant group, respectively. Severe cardiovascular complication graded CD 3–5 occurred in 93 (8%) of all patients within 30 days of emergency laparotomy. We found no association between malignancy and postoperative cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing emergency surgery (OR 0.8, 95% CI; 0.4, 1.5). Increasing age and ASA physical status classification system (ASA) score ≥ III were the only independent risk factors of cardiovascular complications graded CD 3–5. ConclusionsMalignancy was not associated with postoperative cardiovascular complications after emergency laparotomy. Risk factors for major cardiovascular complications after emergency abdominal surgery were age and ASA score ≥ III.

POS-349 WHICH PARAMETERS BEST PREDICT REHOSPITALIZATION FROM A SECOND HIP FRACTURE EVENT FOR PATIENTS LIVING WITH CKD ADMITTED FOLLOWING HIP FRACTURE? A 6-YEAR PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Greater frequency of falls and subsequent hip fractures are observed for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to those without CKD. The cause of increased falls risk is multifactorial. Many patients living with CKD are frail, sarcopenic and have numerous medical co-morbidities. Fracture risks following a fall could be exacerbated by mineral bone disease secondary to CKD. There is usually a marked deterioration in functional status for patients living with CKD following hip fracture, even after rehabilitation. A reduced baseline function increases risk for further falls and hip fracture events. Worsened morbidity and mortality outcomes are expected in patients with CKD following recurrent trauma and rehospitalization. The most useful clinical assessment tool to predict for rehospitalization from a second hip fracture event amongst this patient group remains unestablished. Patients with CKD G3b-5 admitted from home to a tertiary hospital in North West UK with hip fracture between Jun 2013 and Dec 2019 were included. Individuals with previous hip fractures prior to study commencement were excluded. Parameters assessed on hospital admission for each patient included the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Charlson’s Co-morbidity Index (CCI), Chronic Kidney Disease Frailty Index Laboratory Score (CKD FI-LAB), Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, Sernbo Score, Nottingham Hip Fracture Score, Estimated VO2 Peak, ASA Physical Status Classification System Score and Abbreviated Mental Test Score. Rehospitalization events from a second hip fracture during the study period were recorded. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to evaluate the ability of individual scoring tools to predict for rehospitalization from a second hip fracture event amongst patients with CKD admitted following their first hip fracture. A total of 397 patients met inclusion criteria of which 42 patients (10.6%) were receiving long-term dialysis. Mean Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) for non-dialysis patients was 37.4±14.9mL/min/1.73m2. 37 patients (9.3%) sustained a second hip fracture leading to rehospitalization during the study period and the mean age difference between first and second hip fracture events is 1.4 yrs (p=0.032). Area under a curve (AUC) values from ROC curve analyses are shown in the table. Tabled 1PredictorAUC Value95% CIClinical Frailty Scale0.940.87-1.00Charlson's Co-morbidity Index0.900.84-0.97Chronic Kidney Disease Frailty Index Laboratory Score0.890.82-0.96Karnofsky Performance Status Scale0.840.77-0.91Sernbo Score0.820.75-0.88Nottingham Hip Fracture Score0.800.73-0.87Estimated VO2 Peak0.790.72-0.86ASA Physical Status Classification System Score0.700.63-0.76Abbreviated Mental Test Score0.630.56-0.70 Open table in a new tab Assessment tools evaluating frailty and co-morbidity status (CFS, CCI and CKD FI-LAB) displayed the strongest predictive ability for rehospitalization events from a second hip fracture in patients with CKD following initial hip fracture. Future studies should aim to optimize frailty needs and address medical co-morbidities in the CKD population during early phases of post-trauma rehabilitation. An effective multidisciplinary team input throughout this process may reduce further falls and fracture risks.

POS-348 Predicting difficulties with direct home discharge following hip fracture for patients living with CKD: Insights from a 6-year prospective study

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk of falls and sustaining hip fractures compared to those without CKD. Worse clinical outcomes are observed in CKD groups, exacerbated by frailty, sarcopenia and other co-morbidities. Arranging discharge to own home following hip fracture is often difficult for older patients living with CKD. Patients with CKD usually have markedly deteriorated functional status following acute trauma and basic rehabilitation requirements cannot be holistically supported within a home environment. The most useful clinical assessment tool to predict for non-home discharge in patients with CKD following hospitalization with hip fracture remains unknown. Patients with CKD G3b-5 admitted from home to a tertiary hospital in North West UK with hip fracture between Jun 2013 and Dec 2019 were included. Parameters assessed on hospital admission for each patient included Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Charlson’s Co-morbidity Index (CCI), Chronic Kidney Disease Frailty Index Laboratory Score (CKD FI-LAB), Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, Sernbo Score, Nottingham Hip Fracture Score, Estimated VO2 Peak, ASA Physical Status Classification System Score and Abbreviated Mental Test Score. Patients who did not directly return home after hospitalization following hip fracture were discharged to a residential home, nursing home, specialist rehabilitation unit in the region or another district general hospital for ongoing rehabilitation needs. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to evaluate the ability of individual scoring tools to predict non-home discharge following hip fracture in patients with CKD admitted from home. A total of 225 patients met study inclusion criteria. The mean age was 81.6±10.1 yrs and the female:male ratio was 1.7:1. 33 patients (14.7%) were on long-term dialysis. 30-day in-hospital mortality was 5.9%. Following hip fracture hospitalization, 117 patients (52.0%) directly returned home on discharge. 13 patients (5.8%) were discharged to residential home, 51 patients (22.7%) to nursing home, 22 patients (9.8%) to a specialist rehabilitation unit in the region and 12 patients (5.3%) were repatriated to a district general hospital closer to the patient’s pre-admission residence. Difference in 1-year mortality rate between the non-home discharge cohort and those directly discharged home from hospital was +16.2% (p<0.001). Area under a curve (AUC) values from ROC analyses are shown in the table. Tabled 1PredictorAUC Value95% CIClinical Frailty Scale0.950.88-1.00Charlson's Co-morbidity Index0.920.85-0.99Chronic Kidney Disease Frailty Index Laboratory Score0.890.82-0.96Karnofsky Performance Status Scale0.850.78-0.92Sernbo Score0.840.77-0.91Nottingham Hip Fracture Score0.790.72-0.85Estimated VO2 Peak0.780.71-0.84ASA Physical Status Classification System Score0.690.62-0.75Abbreviated Mental Test Score0.660.59-0.73 Open table in a new tab Frailty and co-morbidity assessment tools (CFS, CCI and CKD FI-LAB) displayed the best predictive ability for non-home discharge following hip fracture in patients with CKD. Difficulty with direct home discharge is associated with significant mortality over the short term. Future research should explore holistic, multi-modal and multi-disciplinary interventions that aim to improve outcomes of patients with CKD at risk of extensive post-trauma rehabilitation needs.

ASA Physical Status Classification Improves Predictive Ability of a Validated Trauma Risk Score.

Introduction:The Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged (STTGMA) is a validated mortality risk score that evaluates 4 major physiologic criteria: age, comorbidities, vital signs, and anatomic injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the addition of ASA physical status classification system to the STTGMA tool would improve risk stratification of a middle-aged and elderly trauma population.Methods:A total of 1332 patients aged 55 years and older who sustained a hip fracture through a low-energy mechanism between October 2014 and February 2020 were included. The STTGMA and STTGMAASA mortality risk scores were calculated. The ability of the models to predict inpatient mortality was compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) by DeLong’s test. Patients were stratified into minimal, low, moderate, and high risk cohorts based on their risk scores. Comparative analyses between risk score stratification distribution of mortality, complications, length of stay, ICU admission, and readmission were performed using Fisher’s exact test. Total cost of admission was fitted by univariate linear regression with STTGMA and STTGMAASA.Results:There were 27 inpatient mortalities (2.0%). When STTGMA was used, the AUROC was 0.742. When STTGMAASA was used, the AUROC was 0.823. DeLong’s test resulted in significant difference in predictive capacity for inpatient mortality between STTGMA and STTGMAASA (p = 0.04). Risk score stratification yielded significantly different distribution of all outcomes between risk cohorts (p < 0.01). STTGMAASA stratification produced a larger percentage of all negative outcomes with increasing risk cohort. Total hospital cost was statistically correlated with both STTGMAASA (p < 0.01) and STTGMA (p = 0.02).Conclusion:Including ASA physical status as a variable in STTGMA improves the model’s ability to predict inpatient mortality and risk stratify middle-aged and geriatric hip fracture patients.

Improving agreement of ASA physical status class between pre-anesthesia screening and day of surgery by adding institutional-specific and ASA-approved examples: a quality improvement project

BackgroundA successful anesthesia pre-assessment clinic needs to identify patients who need further testing, evaluation, and optimization prior to the day of surgery to avoid delays and cancelations. Although the ASA Physical Status Classification system (ASA PS) has been used widely for over 50 years, it has poor interrater agreement when only using the definitions. In 2014, ASA-approved examples for each ASA physical status class (ASA PS). In this quality improvement study, we developed and evaluated the effectiveness of institutional-specific examples on interrater reliability between anesthesia pre-anesthesia clinic (APAC) and the day of surgery evaluation (DOS).MethodsA multi-step, multi-year quality improvement project was performed. Step 1, pre-intervention, was a retrospective review to determine the percentage agreement of ASA PS assignment between APAC and DOS for adult and pediatric patients. Step 2 was a retrospective review of the step 1 cases where the ASA PS assignment differed to determine which medical conditions were valued differently and then develop institutional-specific examples for medical conditions not addressed by ASA-approved examples. Step 3 was to educate clinicians about the newly implemented examples and how they should be used as a guide. Step 4, post-intervention, was a retrospective review to determine if the examples improved agreement between APAC and DOS ASA PS assignments. Weighted Kappa coefficient was used to measure of interrater agreement excluding chance agreement.ResultsHaving only ASA PS definitions available, APAC and DOS agreement was only 74% for adults (n = 737) and 63% for pediatric patients (n = 216). For adults, 20 medical co-morbidity categories and, for pediatric patients, 9 medical co-morbidity categories accounted for > 90% the differences in ASA PS. After development and implementation of institutional-specific examples with ASA-approved examples, the percentage agreement increased for adult patients (n = 795) to 91% and for pediatric patients (n = 239) to 84%. Weighted Kappa coefficients increased significantly for all patients (from 0.62 to 0.85, p < .0001), adult patients (from 0.62 to 0.86, p < .0001), and pediatric patients (from 0.48 to 0.78, p < .0001).ConclusionsASA-approved examples do not address all medical conditions that account for differences in the assignment of ASA PS between pre-anesthesia screening and day of anesthesia evaluation at our institution. The process of developing institutional-specific examples addressed the medical conditions that caused differences in assignment at one institution. The implementation of ASA PS examples improved consistency of assignment, and therefore communication of medical conditions of patients presenting for anesthesia care.

Analysis of Laryngoscopy Attempts in Infants: Reply.

We thank Dr. Horvath for his correspondence1 regarding our study of the association between infant laryngoscopy attempts and hypoxemia.2 We agree that infants experience higher risks of respiratory adverse events during tracheal intubation than adults. Although the American Society of Anesthesiologists (Schaumburg, Illinois; ASA) provides definitions and clinical examples to guide the use of the ASA Physical Status system, Dr. Horvath states correctly that a patient’s age is not considered.3 Dr. Horvath’s suggestion of updating the definitions for the ASA Physical Status system for pediatric patients is worthy of discussion. Assigning ASA Physical Status II to healthy infants because of higher rates of adverse events during tracheal intubation might be problematic. First, the purpose of the ASA Physical Status classification system is to communicate the patient’s medical comorbidities, not their anesthetic risk. Second, if age were considered a comorbidity then one would have to assign a higher status for patients at both extremes of age, not just infants. Finally, a rapid sequence induction in a child increases the risk of hypoxemia during laryngoscopy, yet ASA Physical Status is not typically adjusted because of a plan for rapid sequence induction. There are many clinical scenarios wherein infants may be classified appropriately as ASA Physical Status I, such as a 3-month-old patient undergoing a circumcision. Although direct laryngoscopy can be challenging in infants, there are alternatives for establishing an airway, including supraglottic airways and video laryngoscopy, that may be less challenging than direct laryngoscopy.In summary, we share Dr. Horvath’s concerns about the need to document and communicate the higher incidence of adverse events in infants; however, we do not feel that ASA Physical Status is the right tool. We welcome further ideas to address this in the future.Dr. Fiadjoe discloses funding from The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (Rochester, Minnesota). The other authors declare no competing interests.

Effects of Low Pressure of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Arterial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide and Mean Blood Pressure

Background: The effect of low pressure pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy on partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood (PaCO2) is an important subject which has not been completely defined.Methods: In a double-blind clinical trial, we randomly studied 202 ASA (The ASA physical status classification system) class 1, 2 patients aged between 20 and 85 years who were candidates for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. They were randomly divided into two groups of low pressure pneumoperitoneum (6-8 mm Hg) and standard pressure pneumoperitoneum (12-14 mm Hg). By the same general anesthesia protocol in the two groups, PaCO2 was assessed before CO2 insufflation and desufflation. Mean Arterial blood Pressure (MAP) was measured in the two groups.Results: PaCO2 was not significantly different between the 2 groups before CO2 insufflation. But, PaCO2 was statistically lower in low pressure pneumoperitoneum group before CO2 desufflation (P= 0.001). Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) in standard pressure pneumoperitoneum group was lower than the low pressure pneumoperitoneum group at 5 and 10 minutes after CO2 insufflation and before the time of CO2 desufflation (P=0.001, P=0.006 and P=0.001, respectively). While, MAP was not statistically different between the two groups before CO2 insufflation (P=0.55).Conclusion: Low pressure pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be an effective protocol to prevent the rise of PaCO2 by preserving the hemodynamic status in such cases.

Screening colonoscopy and risk of adverse events among individuals undergoing fecal immunochemical testing in a population-based program: A nested case-control study.

Screening by means of biennial fecal occult blood test has provided a reduction in overall colorectal cancer mortality. Notwithstanding, we should not underestimate the harms that it can produce. The aim of this article is to identify the independent risk factors of complications after a screening colonoscopy. A six-year, nested case-control study was conducted. Mortality/complications within 30 days after colonoscopy were registered and its predictors identified through logistic regression. After 39,254 colonoscopies, the complication rate was 1.0%. Independent predictors were sex (OR 1.68 for men; CI 95% 1.18-2.39), ASA physical status classification system (OR 1.73 for ASA II-III; CI 95% 1.53-3.69), history of abdominal surgery (OR 2.37; CI 95% 1.72-4.08), diverticulosis (OR 2.89; CI 95% 1.94-4.30), inadequate cleansing (OR 29.35; CI 95% 6.52-132.17), detection of advanced neoplasia (AN) (OR 4.92; CI 95% 3.29-7.36), detection of stage I adenocarcinoma (OR 9.44; CI 95% 4.46-20.0), polyps in right colon OR 2.27 CI 95% 1.38-3.74) and complex polypectomy (OR 2.00; CI 95% 1.25-3.20). The logistic model explained 82% of the complications (CI 95% 0.798-0.854, p < 0.001). Colonoscopy, with or without removal of a lesion, is an invasive procedure with a non-deniable risk of major complications. Factors like inadequate cleansing or detection of AN are determinants. Therefore, it is vital to know which aspects predict their appearance to implement countermeasures.

Sarcopenia in patients with hip fracture: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

BackgroundSarcopenia is prevalent in older persons and is a risk factor for falls, fractures, and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine a) the feasibility of determining sarcopenia in patients with acute hip fracture, b) the prevalence of sarcopenia and c) associations of sarcopenia with nutritional status and comorbidities.MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional study on sarcopenia in male and female patients with acute hip fracture. Participants were previously ambulatory and living in the community. Sarcopenia was assessed postoperatively with muscle mass estimated by anthropometry using triceps skinfold, arm circumference, height, weight and sex. Grip strength was measured by Jamar dynamometer and pre-fracture mobility was by self-report using the New Mobility Score.ResultsOut of 282 patients, 202 were assessed for sarcopenia of whom 74 (37%) were diagnosed as sarcopenic. Sarcopenia was associated with age, odds ratio (OR) 1.4 per 5 years, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.1, 1.8], ASA Physical Status Classification System score, OR 2.3 per point, 95% CI [1.3, 4.3] and number of medications at discharge, OR 1.2 per medication, 95% CI [1.0, 1.3] and inversely associated with BMI, OR 0.8, 95% CI [0.7, 0.9] and serum albumin, OR 0.9, 95% CI [0.8,1.0].ConclusionsThirty-seven percent of assessed subjects were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Our data demonstrates that the prevalence of sarcopenia is associated with older age, malnutrition and comorbidities. Determining sarcopenia at the bedside was feasible in postoperative hip fracture patients by using grip strength, estimation of muscle mass by anthropometry and self-reported mobility.

Total hip arthroplasty and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a high dependency unit

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) undergoing lower limb arthroplasty present an increased risk for intra- and postoperative respiratory complications. The aim of our study is to determine disturbances in arterial blood gases (ABGs) that might occur during and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedure in a high dependency unit (HDU). We present the cases of 23 patients with a mean age 71±2 years, grouped in class II and III, according to ASA Physical Status Classification System, who underwent THA under epidural anesthesia. Our study reveals that in the case of patients with COPD who underwent THA, reduction of pO2 was statistically important during and immediately after the surgical intervention, while an important concurrent change of pH and pCO2 was not observed. For a better outcome in patients with COPD who undergo THA, both intra- and postoperative respiratory care in the HDU, with hemodynamic monitoring and avoidance of hypotension and hypoxemia, are essential.

Adding Examples to the ASA-Physical Status Classification Improves Correct Assignment to Patients.

Despite its widespread use, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)-Physical Status Classification System has been shown to result in inconsistent assignments among anesthesiologists. The ASA-Physical Status Classification System is also used by nonanesthesia-trained clinicians and others. In 2014, the ASA developed and approved examples to assist clinicians in determining the correct ASA-Physical Status Classification System assignment. The effect of these examples by anesthesia-trained and nonanesthesia-trained clinicians on appropriate ASA-Physical Status Classification System assignment in hypothetical cases was examined. Anesthesia-trained and nonanesthesia-trained clinicians were recruited via email to participate in a web-based questionnaire study. The questionnaire consisted of 10 hypothetical cases, for which respondents were first asked to assign ASA-Physical Status using only the ASA-Physical Status Classification System definitions and a second time using the newly ASA-approved examples. With ASA-approved examples, both anesthesia-trained and nonanesthesia-trained clinicians improved in mean number of correct answers (out of possible 10) compared to ASA-Physical Status Classification System definitions alone (P < 0.001 for all). However, with examples, nonanesthesia-trained clinicians improved more compared to anesthesia-trained clinicians. With definitions only, anesthesia-trained clinicians (5.8 ± 1.6) scored higher than nonanesthesia-trained clinicians (5.4 ± 1.7; P = 0.041). With examples, anesthesia-trained (7.7 ± 1.8) and nonanesthesia-trained (8.0 ± 1.7) groups were not significantly different (P = 0.100). The addition of examples to the definitions of the ASA-Physical Status Classification System increases the correct assignment of patients by anesthesia-trained and nonanesthesia-trained clinicians.

Эффективность комбинированного лечения колоректального рака у пациентов старческого возраста

Aim of investigation.To estimate efficacy of combined treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in senile patients, to determine risk factors for postsurgical complications and evaluate postoperative mortality. Material and methods. The retrospective and prospective analysis of primary CRC patients, who were operated in The First Sechenov Moscow State Medical University and Petrovsky National Research Center of Surgery in April, 2006 to May, 2014 was carried out. Overall 122 patients with CRC of the II-IV stage of senile age were selected, whose mean age was 79 (75-95) years. Preoperative comorbidity assessment and perioperative complications risk were assessed by Charlson comorbidity index and ASA physical status classification system. Cr-POSSUM scoring system was applied to predict postoperative (30-day) mortality. Overall and cancer-specific survival rate were assessed taking into account comorbidity of patients and prescribed adjuvant therapy. Results. The average Charlson score taking into account age of the patient was 7.6±2.4. Forty seven patients (39%) were classified as ASA≥3. The predicted postoperative motility (Cr-POSSUM) was 13.2%. In 106 (87%) patients colon or rectum resection with formation of primary interintestinal anastomosis and D3 lymph node dissection, at 11 (9%) - abdominal and perineal rectum extirpation is executed, 5 patients had obstructive Hartmann operation. Patients with the IV stage of CRC underwent standard volume surgery with high-grade lymph node dissection due to the high risk of obstruction or tumor bleeding. Achieved 30-day postoperative mortality was 4.9%, overall 5-year survival rate - 67.3±5.6%, cancer-specific survival - 70.1±4.4%. In group of patients with III and IV stages of CRC who received postoperative adjuvant therapy, the tendency to higher total survival was noted, however only cancer-specific survival scores had statistically significant differences in this subgroup. Conclusions. Multidisciplinary approach to CRC treatment provides achievement of satisfactory postoperative mortality in senile patients (4.9% versus predicted 13.2%) along with satisfactory total and cancer-specific 5-year survival rate. Postoperative adjuvant therapy significantly improves treatment results for third stage CRC, however the objective indications for adjuvant therapy are yet to be established. Due to complex drugto-drug interactions specificity of metabolism and biological tumor properties, cross-reactions of concomitant diseases in senile patients each step of combined treatment should be discussed at multidisciplinary consultation.