Informed Consent For Surgical Procedures

Surgery is an inherently risky undertaking. Your doctor will recommend surgery when the risks of surgery are outweighed by the benefits. When discussing your surgery, you will be told what type of procedure is recommended, what alternatives there are, the risks and benefits of surgery, the type of anesthesia required, and the expected outcomes.  Each person is unique in both their anatomy and their ability to heal and tolerate surgery. We are not always able to anticipate all aspects of surgery or its outcomes.  Our surgeons are highly skilled, but complications happen regardless of surgeon skill and judgement. Most complications are infrequent (less than 10%) or rare (less than 1%), but if you experience a complication, it can be life-threatening or life-altering. Some, but not all, of the risks to surgeries we commonly perform are listed below. Underlying medical conditions that increase your risk are also listed below. We encourage you to talk to your physician and ask questions you may have. 

Risks 

  • Adverse reaction to anesthesia 

  • Bleeding 

  • Infection (in skin incisions, muscle layers, or deep inside the chest or abdomen) 

  • Failure of healing 

  • Recurrence of condition 

  • Chronic pain 

  • Damage to nearby structures (nerves, blood vessels, internal organs) 

  • Respiratory failure 

  • Heart attack 

  • Stroke 

  • Blood clots 

  • Death 

  • Need for additional procedures 

Underlying medical conditions that increase risk 

  • Poor nutritional status 

  • Need for assistance with activities of daily living or require total care 

  • Type 2 Diabetes 

  • Congestive heart failure (CHF) 

  • Emphysema or COPD 

  • Cirrhosis of the liver 

  • End-stage renal disease requiring dialysis 

  • Active tobacco use (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, vaping)