Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) Practice Exam

The Apfel score is a validated tool specifically designed to assess the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). It incorporates four key risk factors: a history of motion sickness or PONV, the use of opioids in the postoperative period, the type of surgery (with higher risk for certain procedures), and being female. Each factor is assigned a point, and the total score helps predict the likelihood of a patient experiencing PONV after surgery. This scoring system is valuable in guiding prophylactic measures to prevent PONV in at-risk patients.

In contrast, the ASA classification is primarily used to evaluate the physical status of patients prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery, categorizing them based on their overall health and comorbidities. The Ramsay sedation scale assesses the level of sedation in patients, rather than their risk for PONV. The Aldrete scoring system is utilized to determine the readiness of a patient for discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit, focusing on recovery from anesthesia rather than the likelihood of experiencing nausea and vomiting. Thus, the Apfel score stands out as the appropriate tool for assessing PONV risk.