Risk Scores for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)

The authors developed 3 scores:

(1) score 1 using 5 factors multiplied by the logistic coefficient

(2) score 2 using the same 5 factors each scored as 1 if present and 0 if absent

(3) score 3, which was a modification of the score of Palazzo and Evans

Parameters for scores 1 and 2:

(1) gender

(2) previous history of postoperative nausea and vomiting

(3) duration of surgery

(4) smoking history

(5) history of motion sickness

score 1 =

= (0.93 * (points for gender)) + (0.82 * (points for history PONV)) + (0.75 * (points for surgery duration)) + (0.61 * (points for smoking status)) + (0.59 * (points for history of motion sickness))

score 2 =

= SUM(points for all 5 parameters)

Interpretation:

• minimum for scores 1 and 2: 0

• maximum for score 1: 3.7

• maximum for score 2: 6

• The higher the scores, the more likely the patient will experience PONV.

• The significance of score 2 was discussed while that of score 1 was not.

after Table 6, page 448