ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to assess the patient's awareness of informed consent and to evaluate the current practice of obtaining informed consent from patients proposed for elective surgery in tertiary care hospital. Cross sectional survey. This study was conducted in Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad, Sindh from 2[nd] April 2012 to 3[rd] March 2013. This study was designed as an observational investigation and no interference was made regarding the informed consent process to the patient. The selection criteria for the patients who were interviewed were convenience sampling. All adult patients of >18 years, who were undergoing various surgical procedures were interviewed after taking verbal informed consent on the second postoperative day, when they were comfortable to answer the questions. While all those patients who were uncomfortable due to pain or other reason and were unwilling to answer the questions were excluded from the study. All the patients were asked predesigned questions related to the information they were provided before the surgery as part of standard informed consent practice. Questions were asked in local language which includes the demographic data, operative details, risk, benefit, complications of surgery, type of anesthesia and alternative treatment options etc. The data was entered on SPSS version 16. Frequency and percentages were calculated to show the results. Mean age of the patients was 34.95 +/- SD 14.236 years. 220 patients were included in the study. 183[83.18%] patients were told about the indications of surgery while 136 [61.81%] patients were not told about any complication of Surgery. Type of anesthesia was discussed in only 25[11.36%] of patients while complications of anesthesia were discussed in only 18[8.18%] of patients. 165[75%] patients were not given time to ask the questions regarding their disease or surgery. Consent by the consultants was taken in only 63[28.63%] patients. The majority of the patients knew the indication of surgery but very few were informed about the possible complications and risk of the surgery and anesthesia
ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of postoperative sore throat after thyroidectomy under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. This study was carried out at two private hospitals including a teaching University hospital i.e. Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad over a period of three years from April 2005 to March 2008. All patients who underwent different types of thyroid surgeries during above mentioned period were included in this study. All relevant data especially age, sex, weight, American Society of Anesthesiologist's [ASA] physical status of patient, type and duration of Surgery, operative duration, number of intubation attempts and size of cuffed endotracheal tube [ETT] used were recorded on a standard form. The patients were asked direct questions on first post operative day regarding sore throat. Post operative sore throat was observed in 112 [80%] patients. The ETT having diameter of 7.5 mm or more, extensiveness of thyroidectomy, age of more than 35 years and operative duration of more than one hour were the statistically significant factors contributing in the occurrence of post thyroidectomy sore throat. There was no statistically significant impact of gender and number of intubation attempts on the occurrence of post thyroidectomy sore throat. Postoperative sore throat is a common complication after thyroid surgery. Larger size of ETT, more extensive surgery, increased age and prolong operation are the main contributing factors for the occurrence of post operative sore throat