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Published on Jun 14, 2022 · Last Updated 9 months 2 weeks ago
Compendium: Explanations of Common Procedures and their Associated Risks
The document Explanations of Common Procedures and their Associated Risks contains the complete listing of procedure descriptions and their associated risks. The document can be downloaded either as a pdf document or as an a MS Word document. The descriptions were culled from language from IRB-approved consent forms. The wording in the procedures and the associate risks should be used as starting points; the IRB expects that investigators will edit the wording as needed to meet the requirements of their study. The objective should be to provide the amount of information that a reasonable person would want to know, written at a Grade 6 - 8 reading level. The information below includes a partial listing of common risk language.
Risk Statements for Some of the More Common Procedures
| Blood Draw / Venipuncture | Taking blood may cause some pain, bleeding or bruising at the spot where the needle enters your body. Rarely, taking blood may cause fainting or infection. |
| Breach of Privacy and Confidentiality |
As with any study involving collection of data, there is the possibility of breach of confidentiality of data. Every precaution will be taken to secure participants' personal information to ensure confidentiality. At the time of participation, each participant will be assigned a study identification number. This number will be used on (include items as applicable) data collection forms, blood samples, tissue specimens and in the database instead of names and other private information. A separate list will be maintained that will links each participant's name to the study identification number for future reference and communication. |
| Echocardiogram (Echo) | Echos are very safe. The gel may feel cold when it is first placed. Some people with sensitive skin can develop a rash from the gel. |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) | There is a small risk that redness or swelling could develop from the ECG electrodes (pads) that will be placed on the chest. |
| Eye Examination |
There is very little risk of harm from eye examination. (Add this statement if applicable) Eye drops will be needed to make the pupils larger. This may make your vision temporarily blurry and very sensitive to light. You will be given dark glasses to wear. (Include this statement if applicable) Some types of glaucoma may be made worse by dilating drops. If you have high blood pressure or a history of heart disease, in rare instances, dilating drops may make irregular heartbeats or high blood pressure worse. All of these side effects can be treated, if necessary. |
| Insertion of an Intravenous Catheter (IV) | Placing an IV may cause some pain, and bleeding or bruising at the spot where the needle enters your body. Rarely, it may cause fainting. The longer an IV catheter is left in place, the more common it is for redness or infection to develop. |
| Questionnaires and Surveys | There are no physical risks but you might experience momentary embarrassment or discomfort. You do not have to answer any questions that make you too uncomfortable. (Add a statement, if applicable, to discuss any counseling that may be available as a result of concerns that are raised.) |
Risk Statements for Genetic Research
| Genetic Testing/Analysis |
The risks related to genetic analyses can be to individuals or groups. These harms include stigmatization and insurability. (if applicable add) To reduce this risk, your samples will be stored and labeled with a code number. (if applicable add) If the results are used for future research, the researchers will not be able to identify you. Information about this study will not be recorded in your medical record. There is a Federal law, called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which generally makes it illegal for health insurance companies, group health plans, and most employers to discriminate against you based on your genetic information. This law may protect you in the following ways:
This Federal law does not protect you against genetic discrimination by companies that sell life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance. There may be other risks that are not known at this time. Tell the study investigator or study staff right away if you have any problems. If applicable, add: |
| Sharing Genetic Results (with national databases) | We may wish to share your data or DNA samples with other investigators or national databases. The NIH maintains a national database for genetic material. They collect samples for future research. The shared information will not include information that can identify you. The shared information will include information about your diagnosis and genes. If you withdraw consent for sharing, your information or samples that are still at CHOP will be removed and will no longer be used for future research. However, data and samples that have already been shared with other researchers cannot be taken back. |
Risk Statements for Radiology Procedures
| Ionizing Radiation | |
|---|---|
| General Statement for Ionizing Radiation | This study involves exposure to radiation from a name of procedure. You will therefore receive a radiation dose. This dose is not necessary for your medical care. You will get the radiation only because you are taking part in this study. Radiation can increase the risk of cancer after many years but at a dose much higher than you will get. Because of the low dose of radiation, it is very likely that you will see no ill effects. |
| Contrast Agent (add when applicable) | You will receive a contrast agent as part of your name of procedure. Contrast agents can cause allergic reactions and kidney damage. Allergic reactions can include mild itching associated with hives and can be as serious life-threatening emergency from difficulties breathing. If this occurs, it is treatable. |
| DXA and pQCT Scans | This research study involves exposure to a small dose of radiation from a name of procedure. This radiation dose is not necessary for your medical care and will occur only as a result of your participation in the study. At doses much higher than you will receive, radiation is known to increase the risk of developing cancer after many years. At the doses you will receive, it is unlikely that you will see any effects at all. |
| Non-Ionizing Radiation | |
|---|---|
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) |
There are no known risks of physical harm associated with MRI. However, MRI machines produce loud banging noises, which cause some people to become stressed or upset. You may also feel uncomfortable inside the magnet if you do not like to be inside small places or have difficulty lying still. The MRI magnet is always on and attracts certain metal objects. Any metal objects on or inside of your body may heat up, move, and/or not function properly within the scanning room. Metal objects in the room can fly through the air toward the magnet and hit those nearby. There are many safety measures in place to reduce these risks. The staff will screen all persons and materials entering the scanning room for metal. When the study begins, the door to the room will be closed to minimize the risk of someone accidentally bringing a metal object into the scanner room. |
Risk Statements for General Anesthesia and Sedation
| General Anesthesia | You (may) will need GA in order to have a (name of procedure). There are very rare but serious side effects associated with general anesthesia including: irregular heartbeat, increases or decreases in blood pressure, rare reactions to medications used in the anesthesia, and blockage of breathing passages. Other rare complications include nerve injury, lung injury, heart attack and brain damage. An extremely rare but serious complication is rapid increase in body temperature. All of these complications are treatable but might lead to coma or even death. You will have an opportunity to discuss these risks with the anesthesiologist. |
| Sedation | Sedative medicines may make you sleep for several hours and sometimes can have prolonged effect. Uncommon but serious complications include: irregular heartbeat, increases or decreases in blood pressure, rare reactions to medications used, and blockage of breathing passages. All of these complications are treatable but rarely, may lead to coma or even death. Emergency personnel and equipment will be available in the event of a serious adverse reaction to sedation. You will have an opportunity to discuss these risks and the specific drugs that will be used with the nurse or doctor who will supervise the sedation. |
| General Anesthesia or Sedation: Children less than 3 years of age | If the study will involve infants less than 3 years of age the FDA has required – for investigator-held IND studies – to include the following warning statement about the potential for neurotoxicity due to anesthetic and sedative drugs: In neonatal and infant animals, sedative and anesthetic agents adversely affect brain development. This includes loss of brain cells. This may result in long-term changes that may be permanent in learning and behavior. For the most part, these effects happen after prolonged periods of sedation or anesthesia (greater than 3 hours). These effects also appear when rapid brain development is taking place. In children, this is when they are less than 3 years of age. It is not known if similar adverse effects occur in humans. You should know that anesthetic drugs are needed to perform your child’s procedure. They may have the potential to increase the loss of nerve cells in their developing brain. The clinical significance of any such changes is not yet known. |
| Transport under General Anesthesia | During transport to and from location #1 to location #2 there is a small risk that the breathing tube or an intravenous catheter may come out. If either problem happens, it could result in serious breathing or bleeding problems. To minimize the likelihood of any harm, your child's anesthetic care will be directed by experienced anesthesiologists with assistance from nurses and respiratory therapists during the scheduled procedure and transport. You will have an opportunity to discuss these risks with the anesthesiologist. |