Introduction: Ambulatory surgery has proven benefits in patient wellbeing and cost reduction in healthcare systems. However, some patients referred for ambulatory surgery are refused and directed instead towards inpatient care, which generates several drawbacks. The reasons for this refusal have not been yet studied. The aim of this study is to identify, retrospectively, significant variables associated with patient refusal for ambulatory surgery and develop a mathematical tool able to predict with strong accuracy those who will be rejected.
Material and Methods: Over a 5-year period (2014 - 2018), all patients that underwent abdominal hernia repair in our hospital in an inpatient setting, and that had been previously refused for ambulatory surgery, were analysed for a total of 94 variables. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed to identify risk factors associated with refusal using data from 136 patients (65 refused vs 71 accepted). A prediction index for refusal in ambulatory surgery - IRAS - was derived and tested (n = 62 patients).
Results: The risk index included five significant risk factors: type 2 diabetes mellitus [OR 14.669 (2.982; 72.154)], physical status [OR 49.155 (15.532; 155.555)], prior malignancy [OR 14.518 (2.653; 79.441)], prior abdominal surgery [OR 3.455 (1.006; 11.866)] and usage of antiplatelet agents [OR 25.600 (4.309; 152.066)]. All risk factors were associated with a high risk of refusal (OR between 3.455 for history of prior abdominal surgery and 49.155 according to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status classification). Defining five points as the maximum IRAS score that predicts suitability for ambulatory surgery resulted in a positive predictive value of 93.55% and negative predictive value of 87.10%.
Discussion: Significant patient variables for refusal of an ambulatory procedure were determined and an easy to use risk index - IRAS - was built that is able to predict with good accuracy which patients will be refused.
Conclusion: IRAS is a useful tool that can contribute to reduce time to surgery and improve patients’ quality of life.

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