Practical skills

Question 1

Incision and drainage of an abscess

Answer 1

Equipment: Syringe, Needle (drawing up and injecting), 1% Lidocaine, Hemostats, Gauze, Gloves, Facemask

1) Draw up lidocaine
2) Prep patient by applying cleaning solution around wound
3) Inject LA around abscess and over the top
4) Make incision and clean off puss with gauze
5) Break up loculations with hemostat
6) Pack cavity

Question 2

Suturing

Answer 2

2

Question 3

Scrubbing up

Answer 3

1) Put on a visor mask
2) Find gown pack and gloves. Open up gown pack and glove pack onto sterile field
3) Open nail cleaning and leave by sink
4) Open tap and wash hands and forearms
5) Wash hands and elbows keeping elevated
6) Apply scrub to nail washer and wash nails.
7) Wash hands and elbows again and turn off taps
8) Dry arms blotted motions
9) Apply gown: Put hands in two pockets and drop gown. Keep hands elevated
10) Open glove packet and flip.
11) Through sleeve grasp hand of glove and maneouvre white part of gown into glove
12) Securing gown. Hold blue side and give circulator white side and tie gown

Question 4

Assisting in theatre

Answer 4

Instruments:
Manipulation
As you hold and interact with objects in your hands, a surgeon may use the following instruments to interact, dissect and handle tissues or needles within the surgical field
1) Dissecting forceps: Grasp and manipulate tissue
2) Hinged forceps
3) Clamps: Block or occlude blood vessels
4) Probes; Exploring/examining anatomy

Retraction
To improve the view of the surgical field by tissue or organs out of the way the following instruments may be used.
1) Handheld retractors
2) Self retaining retractor

Cutting
To open up tissue, such as the skin during the beginning of an operation in the abdomen, and also to separate tissues apart during an operation.
1) Surgical scissors
2) Scalpel
3) Diathermy: An energy device which is commonly used to cut through tissue, but has both cutting and coagulation properties.

Suturing
It is worth mentioning that needle holders are a specific type of hinged-forceps that are specifically designed to hold suture needles between their teeth. They are used for passing needles through tissue when suturing.

Suction
Suction is used to clear the surgical field by removing blood or other fluids.