Perioperative Evaluation, Patient Prep, and Post- Operative Care Flashcards
What is the importance of pre operative assessments?
• Consider it as pre-surgical planning
• Provides a solid foundation for the surgical procedure
• Gives baseline physiologic data for the patient
• Facilities assessment of disease and the relevance to the surgery
What does pre-operative patient evaluation include?
- Client communication and owner consent
• WITH SIGNATURES!
• Thorough history [including medications/supplements]
• Physical examination
• Dietary restriction [whenever possible]
• Laboratory data
• Determination of surgical risk [ASA status]
• Patient Stabilization
• Pre-surgical medications
What should be discussed with owners prior to surgery?
• Prior to surgery owner should be informed about:
• Diagnosis
• Prognosis
• Surgical options
• Non-surgical options
• Potential complications *
• Post-operative care
• Cost
What is important to include in your pre op patient history? Who is the history obtained from? What are the 2 types of histories?
• Regardless of the procedure, make sure you’re aware of previous medical history
• Usually obtained from the owner or caregiver
• In an emergency, a brief history is usually given [eventually a thorough history is obtained]
• General history vs. Specific history
• Should always include – signalment, diet, exercise, past medical problems/surgery, any
recent treatment
What is the reasons for pre operative exams? What should you be looking for?
• Determines if the patient is healthy enough to safely undergo anesthesia and surgery
• Systematic evaluation of all body systems
• Evaluation of pre-anesthetic physical status
• Patients general body condition should be noted
• Body condition, attitude, and mental status
• Ensure thorough cardiac evaluation and lung function assessment
• Rule out a heart murmur or abnormal arrythmia
• +/- Full neuro and ortho examination
• Remember to check kennel
• Looking for diarrhea or vomiting
What are the diet restrictions that can be in place for monogastric animals?
• NPO
• Withhold food for 6 – 12 hours prior to surgery [pending patient status]
• Continue to offer water
• Monogastric Animals [ie: dogs, cats, swine]
• Fast 6 – 12 hours prior
What are the diet restrictions that can be in place for ruminants ?
• Ruminants [ie: cattle, sheep, goats]
• Fast ~12 – 24 hours prior
What are the diet restrictions that can be in place for rodents/ Rabbits ?
• Rodents and Rabbits [includes mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters]
• High metabolic rate
• No fasting prior
What are the diet restrictions that can be in place for underage animals (< 8 weeks of age or < 1lb) ? Why?
• Underage Animals [<8 weeks of age; <1 lb]
• Hypoglycemia concerns
• Do not withhold water
• Withhold food 1 – 2 hours prior to anesthetic event
In diabetic patients when should you monitor their blood sugar? What should their insulin dose be if given prior to procedure. What are other considerations for diabetic patients?
In young patients, when should you monitor their blood sugar?What are other considerations for young patients? How long should they be fasted before the procedure?
When should antiemetic, antacid, and promotility medications be given to patients who are going into surgery?
Patients at risk for regurgitation, Emergent patients.
What is an important thing to remember about prepping emergent patients for surgery?
They must first be stabilized.
What is the benefits of pre surgical bloodwork? What things should we consider when doing/ choosing our presurgical bloodwork?
• Depends on the animal’s physical status and the procedure being performed
• Elective or routine procedure
• Emergency
• Reduces risk and increases safety
• Provides a baseline for the patient
• Takes into account patient’s behavior
• Normal bloodwork -> Proceed with surgery
• Abnormal bloodwork -> Workup and/or treat prior to anesthesia vs. emergency surgery
Small animal: What is the typical presurgical bloodwork for patients undergoing elective procedures ( ~ 6 months- 4 years)?
• Patients undergoing elective procedure [~6 months – 4 years]
• Hematocrit [PCV]
• Total Protein [TP]
• +/- Limited biochemical and urine screening [BUN, Creatinine, USG]
Small animal: What is the typical presurgical bloodwork for mature adults ( 5-7 years)?
• Mature adults [5 – 7 years]
• Complete blood count [CBC]
• Comprehensive serum biochemistry profile [Chemistry Panel]
• Urinalysis
Small animal: What is the typical presurgical bloodwork for 8 + years?
• 8+ years
• Complete blood count [CBC]
• Comprehensive serum biochemistry profile [Chemistry Panel]
• Urinalysis
• Thyroid Panel [minimum T4]
Small animal: What other additional testing should be ran prior to anesthesia/ surgery and what would be reasons to consider adding this testing on?
• Additional Testing
• Coagulation function test, especially for patients with liver disease, maldigestion disorders, NSAID usage,
and breed predisposition
Equine: What is bloodwork determined based on in horses?
• Indicated for horses based on age and systemic statu
Equine: What kind of bloodwork should be ran for a healthy horse under 4 years old?
• Horses younger than 4 years old and healthy
• Packed cell volume [PCV]
• Total Protein
Equine: What kind of bloodwork should be ran for an systemically ill horse greater than 4 years old?
• Horses greater than 4 years old and systemically ill
• Complete blood count [CBC]
• Chemistry Panel
What panel should be done for right sided abomasal disease of a dairy cow?
Electrolyte measurement for right-sided abomasal disease of the dairy cow
What test should be done on a dairy cow to rule out ketosis?
• Urinalysis in the dairy cow to evaluate the presence of ketosis
What other test should be ran if urinary problems are suspected in large animals?
• Measurement of BUN [blood urea nitrogen] and Creatinine, if urinary problems are suspected
What test is important to run in horses with colic prior to laparotomy?
Analysis of peritoneal fluid prior to laparotomy for horses with colic
What do you need to consider when stabilizing a patient? What may you need to do?
• Patients should be stabilized as thoroughly as possible before surgery
• Correct fluid deficits
• Stable dehydrated open pyometra patient
• Correct acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities
• Treat underlying infection
What is maropitant? What is the dose? When should it be given? What does it do?
Maropitant [Cerenia] – 1mg/kg 45 minutes – 1 hour before pre-medications
• Reduces vomiting, especially if using Hydromorphone
• May have anti-inflammatory properties
• Potential smoother recovery from gas anesthesia and hasten return to eating
What are the different premedication drugs?
• Pre-medication – Many different variations and combinations
• Dexmedetomidine/Butorphanol
• Midazolam
• Diazepam
• Hydromorphone
• Methadone
• Ketamine
What are preemptive analgesia drugs?
• Pre-emptive analgesia
• NSAID [Carprofen, Meloxicam]
• Local Anesthetic [Lidocaine, Bupivacaine]
• Opioids
What is a common antibiotic used in surgical patients?
+/- Antibiotics [ie: Cefazolin]