Adhesion-related complications are common, but rarely discussed in preoperative consent: a multicenter study.
BACKGROUND
Peritoneal adhesions are recognized as an important cause for patient morbidity, but complications related to adhesions occur relatively late after the original operation. Therefore preoperative consent may not adequately reflect the proportions of the problem.


METHODS
A total of 200 patients admitted for intraperitoneal operations at six hospitals were prospectively reviewed to identify whether adhesion-related complications were documented as possible adverse events in their respective consent forms.


RESULTS
Adhesion-related complications were documented in 8.5% (n=17) of consent forms (bowel obstruction n=8, requirement for further operations n=5, difficult reoperation n=1, pain n=3). A direct relationship with adhesions was noted in n=9 of these consent forms.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative informed consent does not adequately reflect the magnitude of adhesion-related problems. These findings have immediate implications for clinical practice.
Rajab
Taufiek Konrad
TK
Department of Surgery, Central Middlesex Hospital, Imperial College London, London, NW10 7NS, UK. taufiek.rajab@imperial.ac.uk
Wallwiener
Markus
M
Talukdar
Sabrina
S
Kraemer
Bernhard
B
D032962:Consent Forms / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom