Principles of Surgery

EFE Veterinary Science

For best surgical outcomesMinimize contamination Minimize blood loss

Minimize surgical time Stable anesthetic

Optimize tissue handling Post-operative wound care

Your main role will be inMinimizing contamination!

Both during and before surgery!

Routine cleaning makes sterile surgery possible!

Dust, dirt and debris in the surgery room cause contamination, infection and poor surgical outcomes!

Instruments must be cleaned after every use

Clean instruments are wrapped

For steriliztion in the autoclave

Wrap keeps the contents sterile

Packs are dated and labelled

And indicator tape is applied

Use caution

When venting, opening and removing packs from the autoclave. Steam is HOT!

When sterile, the indicator tape changes color

After autoclaving, the interior of the pack is sterile

No one but the sterilely gloved surgeon may touch these!

The team dons their caps and masks

Which keep hairs and nose and mouth germs out of the surgical sites.

The surgeon scrubs in

With disinfectant soap and a brush, to the elbows, for 10 miinutes

Touching only the inside,

The surgeon gowns….

…and gloves

Ensuring that the outer surfaces of gown and gloves remain sterile

The surgeon can now only touch what is sterile

And other team members may not touch anything sterile!

Packs and other items must now be opened

Without contaminating the contents. The assistant must not touch the interior of the pack nor the drapes or the front of the surgeon.

Drapes are unfolded without touching the front

And the operative site is draped off

This prevents the sterile surgeon accidentally touching the dirty skin

Typically, anything covered in blue or green

Is sterile, so DON’T TOUCH!!!

Surgery is performed

Using good hemostasis and careful tissue handling

Bear in mind the crucial role of the anesthetist!!

No anesthesia = no surgery

Unsuccessful anesthesia = dead patient!

Once surgery is completed

The patient is cleaned up, recovered, and eventually sent home

Now we depend upon aftercare!Owners must be carefully instructed in necessary aftercare, or surgery can still be a failure!

Successful surgical outcomes

Create happy patients and happy clients!