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The Short-Stay Surgery Discharge Score (SSSDS)

Purpose: To monitor a patient for discharge after outpatient surgery using the Short-Stay Surgery Discharge Score (SSSDS).

Description

The Short-Stay Surgery Discharge Score (SSSDS) can be used to monitor patients after an outpatient surgical procedure. It can help identify patients who are ready for discharge. The authors developed the score at the Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania.


Parameters:

(1) temperature

(2) circulation (blood pressure, pulse)

(3) activity

(4) pain and need for pain medication

(5) bleeding

(6) fluid intake and urine output

 

Parameter

Finding

Points

temperature

severe chills and/or increased perspiration

0

 

oral temperature > 38°C or < 36°C

1

 

oral temperature 36-38°C

2

circulation

blood pressure and heart rate are have changed more than  20% from preoperative values

0

 

standing blood pressure < supine blood pressure, pulse increases >= 10 beats per minute when standing

1

 

standing blood pressure about the same as supine blood pressure, pulse increase < 10 beats per minute when standing

2

activity

unable to ambulate, sleepy

0

 

out of bed with assistance, answers simple questions

1

 

out of bed ad lib, states discharge instructions

2

pain

needs pain medicine, administered IM

0

 

needs pain medicine, administered PO

1

 

free of pain

2

bleeding

large amount of surgical bleeding

0

 

moderate amount of surgical bleeding

1

 

no surgical bleeding and no hematoma

2

intake and output

no PO fluids, unable to void

0

 

PO ice chips, sips fluids, voids into bedpan or urinal

1

 

PO fluids without nausea or vomiting for 1 hour; voids quantity sufficient in bathroom

2

 

where:

• I use only systolic blood pressure in the implementation.

 

discharge score =

= SUM(points for the 6 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 12

• A score of 10-12 is needed for discharge.


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10