pathology 3 - post mortem

Question 0

what is necropsy?

Answer 0

death examination

Question 1

what is a day one competency?

Answer 1

have to be able to do it by day one of practice.

Question 2

what is autopsy?

Answer 2

getting to the bottom of the disease - THE PM. learning about medincine and disease.

Question 3

explain the general approach to a PM. ?

Answer 3

1. is it the correct animal - check paperwork
2. dorsoventral recumbency (if large/thin may need to be on side.
3. assess organ systems in situ one by one and remove together
4. assess them again when out
5. sample selection
6. interpretation and report.

Question 4

preparation and eqiupment needed?

Answer 4

1. clothing - 2pairs of gloves, eye mask, face mask, water proofs etc
2. location - may have to compromise but need good light and clean as possible
3. assitance - if legal case then need someone else to verify
4. documentation!!
5. equipment - dedicated instruments only as they get damaged etc. all sampling equipment ready eg. slides, pots, camera, string, swabs, syringes.

Question 5

explain the prosection and necropsy technique:?

Answer 5

1. external exam - body wieght cond score, any abnormailites?
2. initial dissection - axillary (arm pit) and inguinal regions and pull legs laterally so that dog lies on back.
3. peripheral lymph nodes - submandibular, pre scap, popliteal and remove testis and penis
4. join up cuts and remove ventral skin.
5. reflect tongue - incise soft palate (v shape) dissect hyoid, dissect oseophagus and trachea together down to the thoracic inlet.
6. open abdomen - cut down linea alba (careful)xiphoid to pubis
7. open thorax - cut ribs but careful of diaphragm
8. remove all viscera at a time (organ systems) need to separate trachea and oesophagus

remember to ligate colon. 
remove adrenals NOW or lose them. 
major limb joints
nervous system
special senses
check organs
take samples, pictures, and send away or examine.

Question 6

what may you do with samples?

if legal?

Answer 6

if legal - send away to lab!!
histo - 10-20xformilin to fix!!
toxicology
cytology
parasitology
microbiology
photos