A prospective observational study comparing criteria-based discharge method with traditional time-based discharge method for discharging patients from post-anaesthesia care unit undergoing ambulatory or outpatient minor surgeries under general anaesthesia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mostly, institutions in India have single post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) which follows traditional time-based discharge (TBD) method. Recently, it has been classified into PACU Phase I and Phase II, and criteria-based discharge (CBD) method has been used. This study primarily compares CBD versus TBD methods in moving patients through PACU, and other non-clinical factors causing delay in shifting. METHODS: One hundred patients, aged 18–65 years, American Society of Anesthesiologist's physical status I and II, scheduled for elective minor surgeries under general anaesthesia were studied. White's fast-track score in operating room (OR) and modified Aldrete's score (CBD time) in PACU were recorded. Patients were scheduled to discharge at 60 min based on TBD method. The mean CBD time and actual discharge time from PACU were statistically compared with TBD time. Other non-clinical factors delaying the discharge were also studied. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients achieved acceptable White's fast-track score in OR. The TBD time (60 min) was compared with the mean CBD time (10.70 ± 2.56 min) and actual discharge time (79.75 ± 12.98 min), which were found to be statistically significant. Primarily, anaesthesiologists' busy schedule was accountable for delay in discharge. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that in patients undergoing ambulatory minor surgeries, discharge times based on Criterion Based Discharge scoring systems such as modified Aldrete's and White's-fast are significantly lower in PACU Phase I as compared to the traditional Time Based Discharge method.