Principles Flashcards
What are four things that should be considered before gastrointestinal surgery?
Is the animal fit for GI surgery?
What is the risk of infection from GI bacteria?
How does the GIT heal?
Septic peritonitis - can be a major complication
What are the problems associated with gastric surgical diseases and gastric vomiting?
Loss of gastric hydochloric acid
- Metabolic alkalosis
- Hypochloraemia
Dehydration
- Poor tissue perfusion causing metabolic acidosis
Insufficient food intake
- Hypokalaemia
What can be caused by small intestinal complete obstructions that is a problem when wanting to undertake GI surgery?
Acute vomiting
What can be some problems associated with acute vomiting that need correcting before surgery?
High obstruction
- Mimics vomiting
Low obstruction
- Loss of pancreatic Na+ and HCO3-
- Causing metabolic acidosis
Dehydration
- Poor perfusion causing metabolic acidosis
Insufficient food intake and decreased absorption
- Hypokalaemia
What can a small intestinal partial obstruction cause that can complicate surgery?
Chronic vomiting
Diarrhoea
Weight loss
What should be done to correct problems caused by small intestinal partial obstructions, small intestinal complete obstructions and gastric vomiting?
Intravenous isotonic crystalloids
K+ supplementation provided
How should gastrointestinal bleeding problems be corrected prior to surgery?
Blood transfusions
Iron supplementation
What six things should be done to determine whether an animal is fit for anaesthesia and surgery?
Complete history
Complete physical examination
Check haematocrit and total protein
Check electrolytes: K+ and Na+
Check acid-base status
Complete haematology and biochemistry: if indicated
Should we use prophylactic antibiotics for stomach surgery and why?
Antibiotics may not be necessary in healthy young dogs
If it is then a single broad spectrum antibiotic
Anaerobic coverage is recommended
Cephalosporin or amoxycillin-clavulante
Should we use prophylactic antibiotics for small intestine surgery and why?
Always use antibiotics
Single broad spectrum antibiotic
Anaerobic coverage
Cephalosporin or amoxycillin-clavulante
Should we use prophylactic antibiotics for colon surgery and why?
Always use antibiotics
Combination of 2 antibiotics
Antibiotic specifically targeted to anaerobes
Metronidazole plus cephalosporin/amoxycillin-clavulante
What are ways of decreasing bacterial contamination that isn’t antibiotics?
Isolate site of entry
Lavage wound after closure
Change gloves
Lavage abdomen
Use separate set of instruments for contaminated part
What are three things that need to be known about intestinal wound healing?
How quickly will it heal?
Is there a risk of breakdown?
- Higher in some animals?
How long is the wound strength dependent on sutures or staples used?
What is the strongest layer in the intestinal wall and why?
Submucosa
- High collagen content
Describe the process of intestinal wound healing
Haemostasis
- Days 1-4
- Platelet-fibrin clot formation
Inflammation
- Days 1-5
- Microbial killing
- Wound debridement
Proliferation/granulation
- Days 3-weeks
- Fibroblast proliferation
- Collagen synthesis
- Angiogenesis
Remodelling/maturation
- Weeks-years
Why is there a chance of intestinal wound breakdown during days 3-5?
Overlap between inflammation and proliferation
What happens to the rate of wound healing as you move along the GIT?
It decreases
Describe the rate of wound healing at each stage of the GIT
Stomach
- Rapid healing (abundant blood supply)
- Rarely complicated
Small intestine
- Day 14 regained 75-80% of normal strength
Large intestine
- Day 14 regained 50% of normal strength
- Greatest risk of wound breakdown
What five factors would impact negatively on intestinal wound healing?
Compromise to blood supply
Traumatic surgical technique (no electrocautery)
Hypoproteinaemia
- Can rarely be corrected before surgery
Chemotherapy/radiotherapy
- Delay for 3 weeks
Steroids
- Discontinue where possible
What are the three suture patterns used for repair of GI wounds and why are they chosen?
Full thickness appositional
Simple interrupted
Simple continuous
They restore normal anatomy and promote rapid healing
What type of suture material should be chosen and why?
Any material that is:
- Resistant to infection (monofilament)
- Retains its strength enough to permit healing
- Disappears after wound healing
Name two types of suture material are recommended for GI wounds. Which is preferred?
Monocryl and PDS II