Improving Risk Documentation in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Single-Centre Before-and-After Study of a Pre-printed...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Patient Safety
• Informed Consent

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial for surgical procedures, ensuring patients understand risks, benefits, and alternatives.
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a common UK surgery, often has inconsistent risk disclosure, omitting serious complications.
• Incomplete risk documentation can hinder patient understanding, shared decision-making, and medico-legal protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if a pre-printed, procedure-specific consent form improves risk documentation compliance for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
• To assess the impact of a standardized consent process on the completeness of documented surgical risks.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, single-centre, before-and-after study was conducted at a UK hospital.
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients were assessed pre- (n=46) and post- (n=23) intervention using a pre-printed consent form.
• Consent forms were reviewed for documentation of nationally recommended risks; surgeon feedback was collected.

Main Results:

• Baseline compliance with risk documentation was 0%, with significant omissions of uncommon but serious risks.
• Post-intervention, compliance increased to 100% with the pre-printed consent form.
• Surgeons found the new form time-saving, clear, comprehensive, and beneficial for patient trust.

Conclusions:

• A pre-printed consent form dramatically improved risk documentation for laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 0% to 100%.
• This intervention standardizes practice, enhances medico-legal security, and supports shared decision-making.
• Wider implementation could improve consent quality and patient safety across surgical services.