Lecture 1 Flashcards
What does ante-mortem mean
Before death
What does post-mortem mean
After death
Define necropsy
Postmortem examination
Define Autopsy
Personal inspection or postmortem examination
What is the purpose of a post mortem exam (5)
- Cause of death
- Investigation into disease outbreak
- Reports for insurance company
- RSPCA report
- Collection of samples for laboratory examination - Microbiology - Histopathology - Parasitology - Toxicology
What animals need a post mortem exam
Any species may require
What potential hazards are there and how will you overcome/minimise the risks (5)
- Physical hazard to yourself and others
- Biological hazards ie salmonella, Hendra, anthrax
- Contamination - environmental - samples
- PPE
- Disinfection of site, instruments, samples, self
List the steps of a post mortem exam
- Collect a complete history prior to starting
- Examine the external features of the animal
- Develop a standard and systemic PM approach
- Be observant and take samples as you go
- Examine and record external lesions
In a post mortem exam which animal us usually on the left side
Ruminants
What is the display stage
The abdominal cavity and thoracic cavity is open
What needs to be done PM for microbiology and why
Collect samples aseptically before touching tissues to prevent contamination
How to morphologically describe lesions (8)
- Location 2. Distribution 3. Colour 4. Size 5. Shape 6. Surface appearance 7. Consistency/texture/content 8. Odour
What the morphologic description what can be formulated
A morphological diagnosis and etiological diagnosis
What is step 1 of PM
Display stage
Explain the display stage (step 1)
Skin one side of the animal, reflecting limb
What is essential for systematically exam of body cavities and organs
Describe lesions and collect samples as you go on
How is the abdominal cavity opened
Adjacent to the edge of the ribcage and reflect the muscles of the abdominal wall. Then cut through the diaphragm and open the thoracic cavity using bone cutters to cut the ribs ventrally adjacent to the sternum and dorsally adjacent to the spine
What should you check for in the thoracic cavity
Negative pressure
What occurs after the display stage
Routinely remove and examine thoracic organs first then remove and examine abdominal organs
What is usually examined last in the PM
GIT
When is the GIT examined first
If there is a suspected primary gastrointestinal disorder
What do you do if you suspect a bacterial infection
Collect samples aseptically for microbiology before touching tissues to avoid contamination
What organs do you have collect if you suspect a bacterial infection
Any lesions that you suspect may have a bacterial/fungal infection
What organs do you collect samples from if you expect septicaemia
Heart blood, spleen, liver and lungs
What thickness should tissue in formulin for histology be
Less than 1cm
What is the ratio of formulin to the fluid volume of tissue
10:1
What is collected for cytology
Fluid samples or impression smears
What are the samples taken for virology
Dry swabs Fresh tissues
