Spanish online survey on informed consent for the performance of paracentesis. Do we have it? Do we use it?

informed consent is necessary for invasive procedures as a document that guarantees the ethical health relationship and patient safety.

to analyze whether we have and use informed consent documents for paracentesis in our hospitals and to obtain data on the technique.

a descriptive observational study was performed during December 2019, via a cross-sectional survey disseminated through social networks, aimed at specialists and residents of gastroenterology.

two hundred and three anonymous surveys were included (55.2 % gastroenterologist and 44.8 % residents) from 74 hospitals in 34 Spanish provinces. Ninety respondents (44.3 %) stated that they had the document in their centers. Of these, 29 (32.2 %) always provided it, 31 (34.4 %) provided it sometimes and 21 (23.3 %) never. Seventy-two professionals (35.5 %) answered that they did not have it and 41 (20.5 %) selected "unknown". Of these, 77 (68.1 %) considered it was necessary to create this document, 31 (27.4 %) did not think it was necessary and five (4.4 %) did not answer. With regards to the technique, 173 (85.2 %) performed paracentesis under direct visualization and 30 (14.8 %) were eco-guided on most occasions. One hundred and nine (53.7 %) always applied local anesthetic, 80 (39.4 %) sometimes and 14 (6.9 %) did not. One hundred and sixty-seven respondents (82.3 %) considered it to be a simple technique versus 36 (17.7 %) who thought that it was of intermediate complexity. In terms of risk, 150 (73.5 %) considered it was low and 52 (25.6 %), medium. Ninety-nine (48.8 %) experienced minor complications and 37 (18.2 %) experienced major complications.

paracentesis is a common technique in digestive services and could be associated with complications, even though it is considered to be simple and safe. Due to the important intra- and inter-hospital variability that this technique presents, we consider standardized training in this technique is necessary, as well as the creation, spread and use of informed consents.