title: Patients' perspective on full disclosure and informed consent regarding postoperative visual loss associated with spinal surgery in the prone position.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine patients' opinions regarding the person, method, and timing for disclosure of postoperative visual loss (POVL) associated with high-risk surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  On the basis of findings of a pilot study involving 219 patients at Mayo Clinic in Florida, we hypothesized that at least 80% of patients would prefer disclosure of POVL by the surgeon, during a face-to-face discussion, before the day of scheduled surgery. To test the hypothesis, we sent a questionnaire to 437 patients who underwent prolonged prone spinal surgical procedures at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, or Mayo Clinic in Arizona from December 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 184 respondents, 158 patients gave responses supporting the hypothesis vs 26 with at least 1 response not supporting it, for an observed incidence of 86%. The 2-sided 95% confidence interval is 80% to 91%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At least 80% of patients prefer full disclosure of the risk of POVL, by the surgeon, during a face-to-face discussion before the day of scheduled surgery. This finding supports development of a national patient-driven guideline for disclosing the risk of POVL before prone spinal surgery.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. corda.david@mayo.edu
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Corda
authors: Franklin
authors: F
authors: Dexter
authors: Jeffrey J
authors: JJ
authors: Pasternak
authors: Terrence L
authors: TL
authors: Trentman
authors: Eric W
authors: EW
authors: Nottmeier
authors: Sorin J
authors: SJ
authors: Brull
mesh_terms: D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D016684:Prone Position; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000601:surgery*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*