title: An improved model for predicting postoperative nausea and vomiting in ambulatory surgery patients using physician-modifiable risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a frequent complication in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery, with an incidence of 20%-65%. A predictive model can be utilized for decision support and feedback for practitioner practice improvement. The goal of this study was to develop a better model to predict the patient's risk for PONV by incorporating both non-modifiable patient characteristics and modifiable practitioner-specific anesthetic practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on 2505 ambulatory surgery cases were prospectively collected at an academic center. Sixteen patient-related, surgical, and anesthetic predictors were used to develop a logistic regression model. The experimental model (EM) was compared against the original Apfel model (OAM), refitted Apfel model (RAM), simplified Apfel risk score (SARS), and refitted Sinclair model (RSM) by examining the discriminating power calculated using area under the curve (AUC) and by examining calibration curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EM contained 11 input variables. The AUC was 0.738 for the EM, 0.620 for the OAM, 0.629 for the RAM, 0.626 for the SARS, and 0.711 for the RSM. Pair-wise discrimination comparison of models showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in AUC between the EM and all other models, OAM and RSM, RAM and RSM, and SARS and RSM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All models except the OAM appeared to have good calibration for our institution's ambulatory surgery data. Ours is the first model to break down risk by anesthetic technique and incorporate risk reduction due to PONV prophylaxis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EM showed statistically significant improved discrimination over existing models and good calibration. However, the EM should be validated at another institution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medial School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. psarin1@partners.org
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarin
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Urman
authors.forename: Lucila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ohno-Machado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001900:Boston; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors