Allocation of ASA physical status classification by anaesthetists showed significant variation, with no complete agreement on ASA grade for any of the 10 hypothetical patients.
Cross-Sectional (n=97)
There is significant variation between individual anaesthetists' assessments of ASA physical status classification, suggesting the grade alone cannot satisfactorily describe a patient's physical status.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) Physical Status Classification was tested for consistency of use by anaesthetists. A postal questionnaire was sent to 113 anaesthetists of varying experience working in the Northern Region of England. They were asked to allot ASA grades to 10 hypothetical patients. Ninety-seven (85.8%) responded to two mailings. In no case was there complete agreement on ASA grade, and in only one case were responses restricted to two of the five possible grades. In one case there was a significant difference in answers between anaesthetists with the FRCA (or equivalent) qualification, and those without. So much variation was observed between individual anaesthetist's assessments when describing common clinical problems that the ASA grade alone cannot be considered to satisfactorily describe the physical status of a patient.
Haynes et al. (1995) reported a cross-sectional. ASA Physical Status Classification was evaluated on Consistency of ASA grade allocation to 10 hypothetical patients. Allocation of ASA physical status classification by anaesthetists showed significant variation, with no complete agreement on ASA grade for any of the 10 hypothetical patients.