Post Op Care Flashcards
define pre-operative
before surgery
what is involved in the pre-operative period?
any prior preparation, premedication up until the point of induction of general anaesthesia
what is involved in the peri operative period?
operative period from the start of genera anaesthesia until the patient wakes up form inhaled anaesthesia or anaesthesia is antagonised
what is the post operative period?
return to normal after general anaesthesia and surgery, during which the patient must be monitored closely
when does the recovery period end?
when a full level of consciousness is present and physiological values have been normailised
why is the post op period so important?
period of greatest risk during anaesthesia
what is a major contributory factor to mortality of animals in the recovery period?
a lack of continuous monitoring
where should the patient be transferred to for recovery?
clean, dry, comfy and quiet kennel
why must the recovery area be safe?
in case of thrashing, dysphoria or aggression
when can close monitoring of the recovering patient end?
until the animal is able to remain in sternal recumbancy unaided
when should the ET tube be removed in dogs?
when the animal is starting to swallow or move the tongue
when must cats be extubated?
earlier than dogs - when blink reflex returns as they are prone to laryngeal spasm - fatal
what should you do following extubation to ensure the airway remains patent?
extend the neck and head, pull the tongue forwards
what is different about extubating brachycephallic breeds?
may benefit from tube remaining in place until in sternal recumbancy to aid breathing
what will slow a patients recovery?
low temperature
what can be placed in the kennel in order to warm the patient?
hot hands
hot water bottles
heat pads
what parameters should be monitored in the recovering patient?
TPR
MM
lung auscultation
CRT
what is monitoring of the recovering patient looking for?
signs of haemorrhage or other complicatiosn
when may blood pressure be monitored in the recovering patient?
digital pulses or using doppler in a patient who you are concerned about - should have an idea of BP and its trend from peri-operative monitoring
does IVFT always need to continue post operatively?
only if animal is at risk - most cna come off
what animals are likely to need to stay on IVFT through recovery?
animals at risk of kidney injury or CKD
sick animals (e.g. pyometra)
low perioperative BP
what makes pain assessment in the post op period difficult?
determining dysphoria vs pain
animals level of sedation (unable to respond normally)
species differences (e.g. cats and rabbits)
what can we use to assess pain?
GPS
CMPS - Feline
Rabbit grimace scale
when should water be made available to patients?
as soon as the animals is able to hold themselves in sternal
what will be fed following most routine operations?
soft bland food
when will most animals be fed following routine surgery?
soon after they have fully regained consciousness and seem capable of eating
what is different about feeding cats in hospital?
some cats will be reluctant to eat in hospital which is not necessarily a concern
why is it a priority to get rabbits eating ASAP following surgery?
to prevent gut stasis
when should rabbits be syringe fed if they are not eating by themselves?
within 2 hours of surgery
what will wounds be covered with?
mostly surgical wounds will be covered with a dressing e.g. primapore
why is a buster collar usually necessary as soon as the patient is transfurred to the kennel?
to prevenet interference
what cna be used as an alternative to the buster collar?
medical vest
when should dogs be walked following surgery?
when able to stand and move comfortably
is defecation expected soon after surgery?
no - some animals may have diarrhoea which should be monitored
when should special attention be paid to urination?
following any surgery involving the urogenital tract (e.g. bitch spay) in case of complication
why should rabbits droppings be monitored?
as an indication of gut motility / stasis