Small Animal Surgery. Basic Principles and Techniques

1. Surgical conscience and ethics

Introduction

Best results with minimal complications

Aseptic surgical technique

Surgical principles

2. Prevention and control of infection

Nosocomial infections

Types of nosocomial infection

Hand hygiene

Cleaning and disinfection around the patient

Surveillance of nosocomial infection

Blood infections associated with venous catheters

Technique for placing a peripheral venous catheter

Care and maintenance of peripheral venous catheters

Fluid therapy maintenance

Urinary tract infections associated with urinary catheterisation

Transurethral catheterisation technique

Maintenance of urinary catheters

Percutaneous urinary catheterisation

Surgical site infections

Risk of surgical site infection

Basic classification of surgical wounds

Prevention of surgical infections

Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery

Surveillance and monitoring of surgical site infection

3. Sterilisation techniques

Introduction

Steam autoclaves

Choice of type of autoclave

Autoclave loading and unloading

Control of the efficacy of sterilisation

Autoclave maintenance

Sterilisation of heat-sensitive material. Chemical sterilisation

High-level disinfection

Formol vapour

4. Surgical instruments

Basic concepts

Instrument parts

General categorisation of instruments

Section and dissection

Gripping and handling

Retraction and separation

Clamping and occlusion

Suction and aspiration

Suturing and stapling

Accessory instruments

5. Surgical suite. Cleaning, inspection and maintenance

Introduction

Characteristics of the surgical suite

Cleaning of the operating theatre

Recommended surgical equipment

Preparation area

Cleaning, inspection and maintenance of surgical instruments

Cleaning of surgical instruments

Inspection of surgical instruments

6. Packaging of material for sterilisation

Introduction

Packaging for sterilisation

Folding of surgical gowns and field drapes

Sterilisation packages

Woven fabric

Non-woven fabric

Paper

Rigid containers

Packaging bags

Packaging technique

“Envelope” or diagonal packaging technique

Rectangular or criss-cross packaging technique

7. Suture and ligation materials

General characteristics of surgical thread and needles

Characteristics of suture thread

Calibre

Elasticity

Resistance

Flexibility

Surface

Tissue reaction

Classification of sutures

Industrial finishing

Tissue reaction and degradation

Suture package information

Needles

Types of suture and needle by tissue. Basic concepts

8. Catheters and drains

Introduction

Aspiration catheters/Drains

Passive drain

Active drain

9. Admission and preparation of the patient for surgery

Relationships with owners

Shaving and disinfection of the skin

Blade cleaning and maintenance

Preoperative cleaning and washing of the patient

Positioning of the patient on the operating table

Abdominal procedures

Thoracic procedures

Procedures on the limbs

Preparation of the surgical field

Field drapes

Handling and placement of field drapes

10. Preparation of surgical staff

Introduction

Clothing in the operating theatre

Surgical scrub suit

Cap

Surgical face mask

Specific footwear or shoe covers

Behaviour in the surgical area

Presurgical hand washing

Surgical drying of the hands and forearms

Gowning

Donning surgical gloves

11. Surgical team. Standards during surgery

Introduction

Non-sterile or circulating nurse

Handing over sterile items

Opening of packaged material

Opening laminated bags

Distribution of fluids

Tasks at the end of surgery

Sterile nurse

Preparation and organisation of instruments

Protection of the patient. Field drapes

Aid and assistance to the surgeon

Handling and handing over instruments to the surgeon

Handling and care of tissue

12. Initial surgical techniques

Introduction

Skin incision

Long incision

Precise incision

Dissection and section

Sharp dissection

Blunt dissection

Haemostasis

Preventative haemostatic techniques

Curative haemostasis techniques

Suturing

Holding the needle with the needle holder

Suturing technique

Suture patterns

Surgical knots

Haemostasis. Gauze pads. Sponges. Gauze balls

Surgical sponges

Gauze pads and gauze balls

13. Postoperative period. Care and monitoring

Introduction

Dressings and bandages

Purposes of dressings and bandages

Composition of dressings and bandages

Bandaging

Considerations in maintenance

Prevention of self-trauma

Elizabethan collar

Cervical collar

Bandaging of the legs

Recovery suits

Anti-lick dressings and substances

Identification of complications

Seroma

Bleeding — haematomas

Infection

Suture dehiscence

Delayed healing

Home care

Removal of sutures

14. Basic surgical techniques

Feeding tubes

Pharyngostomy tube

Laparoscopic gastrostomy tube

Midline laparotomy

Orchiectomy

Postoperative considerations

Ovariectomy/Ovariohysterectomy

Possible perioperative complications