Small Animal Medical Nursing Flashcards
Abdominocentesis
Sampling of free fluid within the peritoneal space.
Anastomosis
Reconnecting/suturing of bowel after resection of a portion of bowel.
Arthrodesis
Surgical fusing of a joint together such that motion at the joint is lost.
Capillary refill time
Time required for blood to refill the small capillary beds of the mucous membranes after digital blanching.
Celiotomy
Surgical opening of a coelomic cavity e.g. the abdominal cavity.
Cellulitis
Sterile or non-sterile inflammation of the intestinal tissue
Cystotomy
Incision into the urinary bladder
Dehiscence
Loss of integrity of the sutured layers of an incision.
Enterotomy
Incision into the a small intestinal lumen
Evisceration
Uncontrolled exposure of organs through an incision as a result of dehiscence or trauma.
Gastrotomy
Incision into the stomach
Hydrometra
A condition in which the uterus fills with sterile fluid that causes mild to moderate distention
Ileus
Functional loss of intestinal motility
Intussusception
Telescoping of a portion of the bowel into another
Mucometra
Sterile mucus within the uterus causing mild to moderate to distention
Onychectomy
Removal of a claw
Orchidectomy
Removal of the testicles
Ostectomy
Removal of a portion of bone
Osteochondrosis
Defect in cartilage matureration that causes lack of ossification of maturing cartilage
Ovariohysterectomy
Spay; removal of the uterus
Pseudocyesis
False pregnancy
Pyometra
Bacterial infection of the uterus with purulent fluid accumulation
Seroma
Sterile fluid accumulation beneath an incision after surgery
Strangulation
Encircling of a tissue with the suture or internal sutures such that blood supply to the tissue is lost and death of the tissue ensues, unless the tissue is released and blood flow can resume.
Urethrostomy
A surgical procedure that creates a permanent opening in the urethra. This procedure is most commonly performed in male cats that have a history of multiple urethral blockages. In this species, a urethrostomy is made in the perinuem
Prophylactic antibiotics
Decrease the risk of infection and clean or clean-contaminated surgeries. Will not entirely eliminate surgical site infections.
Indications for prophylactic anabiotics
Operative time longer than 90 minutes.
Patient is immunosuppressed.
A hollow viscus is to be entered e.g. G.I. tract, urinary bladder etc.
Sx site is difficult to aseptically prepare.
Orthopedic implants are placed or a joint is entered.
For anabiotics to be effective what needs to be present?
Therapeutic drug levels in the wound fluid at the time of the surgical incision.
Prophylactic anabiotic’s must be given at least –
20 minutes before the surgical incision is made.
Anabiotic’s given three or more hours before the procedure –
Select for resistant bacteria.
Anabiotic’s given 3 to 5 hours after the incision has been made will likely –
Not be effective in preventing infection.
There is no advantage in continuing anabiotic’s beyond 6 to 24 hours after surgery unless:
Necessary to treat an active infection or a break in sterile technique occurred during surgery.
Signs of blood loss in the post operative patient:
Possible continued hypothermia or drop in body temp.
Rapid HR with weak peripheral pulses.
Rapid RR.
Pale/white MM
Incisional swelling or oozing of blood.
Abdominal distention if intra-abdominal hemorrhage occurs.
Decreased lung sounds if intrathoracic hemorrhage occurs.
A surgical incision is ideally covered with an adhesive or a wrap bandage for the first few days to:
Keep it clean, prevent contact with the hospital environment and absorb seepage.
Pointman’s and creams should not be placed on the incision because
This can cause irritation, and components of the pointman and can delay wound healing.
Abnormalities in the early postoperative period (1-3 days) include:
Redness, swelling, drainage, dehiscence
Swelling secondary to surgical trauma will usually resolve within
3 to 7 days after surgery
Animals usually lake or chew at the incision only if
Character of the incision site is irritating.
Contributors to incision irritation include:
Sutures placed too tight, Traumatic tissue handling, suture reaction, tension on the suture line, clipper burn, prepping irritation, incision infection and seroma formation.
Seromas can form if:
Extensive surgical dissection occurred beneath the incision. Tissue planes could not be or were not adequately closed or excessive motion occurs at the incision site.
So aromas are recognized as
Localized areas of fluctuant swellings, not usually painful or warm to the touch.
What made in resolution of seromas?
Warm compresses, Hydrotherapy and bandaging
Drainage of a seroma is warranted if
It is very large and/or causing impairment
Possibility of infection or cellulitis must be considered if:
Incision swelling occurs 4 to 6 days postoperatively, is warm to the touch, is associated with an elevated body temperature, or is reddened and/or draining.
Abscess or infection must be treated with:
Drainage, warm compresses and systemic anabiotics.
Factors that contributed to wound dehiscence include:
Use of inappropriate suture to close a wound, inappropriate suturing technique, tension on the incision line, incision infection, seroma formation, and disease and/or drug therapy leading to delayed wound healing.
Removal of skin sutures
Suture scissors, simple to use and allow removal with minimal discomfort. Suture should be grasped with thumb forceps. Gentle traction is placed on the suture, suture is cut near the skin surface. Suture is manually pulled out of the skin after cutting.
Metal staples removal
Staple remover should be used to allow removal with minimal discomfort. Placed under the stapler according to manufacturer instructions and squeezed to bend stable ends up and out of the skin.
The technician must have a working knowledge of common surgical procedures to:
Properly prepare the animal for surgery, act as an efficient surgical assistant, have a discussion with the owner, and manage immediate and long-term post operative care.
Elective surgeries
Performed at the veterinarian’s and the owner’s convenience, usually in healthy animals.
Some are done to improve the animals quality of life, not necessarily urgent.
Non-elective surgeries
Must be done urgently. Usually emergency procedures performed on compromised animals.
Indications for tail docking and declaw removal in puppies
Primarily performed for a static reasons and to meet breed standards set forth by the AKC.
Or to prevent drama. E.g. hunting dogs
Indications for tail docking and dewclaw removal in adult dogs
Aesthetics, drama, infection and neoplasia
Indications for Onychectomy:
An elective procedure done to prevent cats from scratching owners and household items.
Three techniques used to declaw a cat:
The nail trimmer technique (Rescoe), the scalpel blade, and the carbon dioxide laser technique
The nail trimmer technique (Rescoe)
Guillotine type nail trimmer is positioned snuggly onto the dorsal surface of the total between the 2nd phalanx and 3rd phalanx. Cutting edge is positioned at the cranial edge of the footpad. As it is advanced, pad is moved caudally while nail is rotated dorsally and caudally. 3rd phalanx excised, taking care not to cut the footpad, a portion is usually left behind but the entire germinal layer is removed to prevent regrowth.
The blade technique
Amputate the entire third phalanx using a 12 scalpel blade. Phalanx is disarticulated dorsolaterally, by cutting through the joint capsule between the 2nd and 3rd phalanges then by cutting the collateral ligaments. The nail is cut away from the underlying tissue and digital pad. Pad is moved out of the way by positioning the blade more dorsal to prevent inadvertent laceration of the pad.
The laser technique
Similar to the blade tech nique except he uses laser energy to dissect the 3rd phalanx free from the 2nd phalanx. The site usually does not bleed so a Turnock it is not necessary.
Postoperative considerations for Onychectomy:
Administer pain medication postoperatively. Bandages, kept in place for 24 hours, hospitalize well bandage is in place. Use paper or paper alternative litter. Don’t re-introduce normal litter until 10 days after. Monitor pause for a hemorrhage, swelling, drainage and redness.
Early complications of cat declawe
Loose bandages, self bandage removal and postoperative bleeding. Infection, generally evident within the first 3 weeks of surgery.
Late complications of Onychectomy
Regrowth of the clause, chronic lameness or both.
Other complications of Onychectomy
Radial nerve damage secondary to Torna kit placement and skin sloughing secondary too tight, prolonged bandage placement.
Celiotomy
Surgical incision into the abdominal cavity. Can be made at several locations: ventral midline, paramedian, para costal, parapreputial and flank. Most commonly used incision is ventral midline.
Elective celiotomy includes:
Ovariohysterectomy, Organ biopsy, cystolithotomy, planted cesarean delivery, gastropexy, removal of retained abdominal testicles.
Non-elective celiotomy procedures include
Emergency cesarean delivery, GDV, intussusception, G.I. foreign bodies, ruptured spleen, penetrating foreign bodies, severe abdominal bleeding and diaphragmatic hernia.
Exploratory celiotomy
Often performed to treat abdominal masses of unknown origin and to obtain biopsies for disease diagnosis
Pre-operative considerations for a celiotomy
Area should be clipped widely. Sick or traumatized animals may have to be stabilized.
Ensure that the appropriate supplies are available.
Postoperative considerations for Celiotomy
Examine incision for the first 24 hours for swelling, drainage, excessive redness, dehiscence and evidence of self trauma.
Some may be in app attend or may vomit after. Intestinal and pancreatic manipulation can lead to intestinal issues, nausea and/or pancreatitis.
Indications for Gastro intestinal surgery
Foreign body lodgment, Neil plasia, biopsy, GDV, G.I. trauma, G.I. obstruction
Pre-operative considerations for G.I sx
Patient should be stabilized and dehydration addressed before sx. Intubate as soon as possible with a cuffed endotracheal tube. Ensure that extra instruments and gloves are available. Prophylactic antibiotics are used if G.I. tract is entered.
Characteristics of intestinal devitalization
Lack of motility; gray, green or black discoloration; severe thinning of the visceral wall; lack of bleeding on cut section; lack of fluorescein die uptake; lack of Doppler blood flow
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus
Dilatation of the stomach with ingesta and gas, with rotation of the stomach into an abnormal position. Life-threatening, typically in deep chested, large and giant breed dogs.
Classic clinical signs of GDV
Vomiting, retching and bloating.