title: ACS NSQIP Risk Calculator: An Accurate Predictor of Complications in Major Head and Neck Surgery?
abstract: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) calculator is meant to provide an estimation of perioperative risk. Our goal was to determine the clinical applicability of the calculator in major head and neck surgery. A retrospective chart review was completed for major head and neck operations performed at 1 institution from 2013 to 2014. The calculated perioperative complication risks from the ACS NSQIP calculator were compared with observed complication rates. Overall, the ACS NSQIP calculator had little predictive value for pneumonia, surgical site infection, 30-day return to operating room, or length of stay within this cohort (P > .05). The calculator appears to have some value predicting total numbers of complications but has poor performance predicting an individual's risk of suffering a perioperative complication. In conclusion, in our small cohort of patients, the ACS NSQIP calculator was a poor predictor of perioperative complications following major head and neck operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Meritas Health, North Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Kumar G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Benton G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Deig
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA mgmoore@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*
keywords: ACS NSQIP; head and neck surgery; pneumonia; postoperative complications; risk calculator; surgical site infection; venous thromboembolus