Low documentation of postoperative adhesions on consent forms for laparotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the documentation of postoperative adhesions as a potential complication of laparotomy on consent forms.


METHODS
Retrospective study of hospital notes of 102 adult patients that underwent laparotomy over a two year period.


RESULTS
Intraperitoneal adhesions were documented as a postoperative risk on 10 consent forms (9.8%) only.


CONCLUSIONS
The results imply that most patients were not informed of this common postoperative complication and this may have medicolegal and risk management implications.
Solomon
Livingstone
L
Department of Surgery, Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, BT35 8DR. stonesolouk@yahoo.co.uk
Dhandapani
Ramya
R
Brown
Robin
R
D054869:Clinical Audit; D032962:Consent Forms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003253:Consultants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004282:Documentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology