Ultrasonic Accelerated Thrombolysis of IVC Thrombosis

Abstract

Methods: A prospective anonymous online survey was administered to members of the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS) and the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (VSS). Each member evaluated general and procedural specific complications for both arterial and venous interventions. Greater than 75% reporting for a specific complication was deemed the threshold for consensus opinion. Results: Overall response rate was 24.8%. The majority of respondents were attending surgeons (81.5% SCVS vs. 85.2% VSS). Both societies considered senior trainees competent to obtain consent. The majority of patients were consented primarily by the attending (67.6% SCVS vs. 90.6% VSS, p<0.01) on a pre-printed consent form (95.1% SCVS vs. 98.7% VSS). Consent was obtained on the day of surgery in the office (35.4%-SCVS) or the day before surgery in the hospital ward (35.1%-VSS) with the provision of additional written documentation (59.2% SCVS vs. 85.4% VSS, p<0.01). Both societies concurred with documentation of general complications including bleeding, cardiac, cerebrovascular, respiratory, thromboembolic and wound infection as well as more specific complications pertaining to aortic aneurysm, carotid endarterectomy, lower limb bypass, amputation and venous surgeries. Although the VSS reported a significantly higher consent training rate (14.1% SCVS vs. 40.8% VSS, p<0.01), both societies stated this mainly involved ad-hoc informal training. Conclusion: Whilst completion logistics of vascular consent vary, both SCVS and VSS members concur on the majority of complications necessary for inclusion in informed vascular consent.