A study published in Spine examined the relationship between the patient's American Society of Anesthesiologists score and 30-day readmissions after undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
The study authors collected data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program on surgeries performed from 2005 to 2012. There were 1,701 patients included in the study: 92 ASA 1 patients; 995 ASA 2 patients; 618 ASA 3 patients and 34 ASA 4 patients.
The study authors found:
1. The independent predictors of postoperative complications were:
• ASA 4 status
• Cardiac comorbidities
• Prior strokes
2 The unplanned readmission rate was 3.2 percent.
3. The researchers found a significant association between high ASA classes and 30-day unplanned readmissions.
4. There was a significant and independent association between the ASA class, cardiac comorbidities and prior strokes and 30-day readmissions.
5. The study authors concluded, "The ASA score may be a valuable tool for the postoperative assessment of ACDF patients for risk of unplanned readmissions."