Small Animal Miscellaneous Wounds Flashcards
What are simple steps for generally approaching wounds from contamination?
- immediately cover the wound
- definitive wound cleansing
- Debride dead & dying tissue
- Remove foreign debris & contaminants
- Provide adequate wound drainage
- Establish a viable vascular bed
- Select the appropriate method of closure
What microorganisms are common in abscesses in cats?
Pasteurella multocida
Anaerobes
What microorganisms are common in abscesses in dogs?
Staph
strep
Pastuerella
Enterococcus
E. coli
anaerobes
When treating abscesses, what are common antibiotics that can be used empirically?
Amoxi-clav or 1st gen cephalosporins
What are some common ways of treating abscesses?
- incise & drain
- open wound management
- close wound management w/ drain placement
- bandage
high incidence wound infection leads to
increased incidences with delayed treatment
What are some important areas to look for deep injuries?
- neck - oesophagus, trachea
- thx - penetration of pleural cavity
- abd - intestinal perforation, traumatic abd hernia, other
What destructive factors are important to consider in gun shot wounds?
Projectile size, weight, design, velocity
Tumbling, flight instability, secondary projectiles
Bullets damage tissues by…
- laceration
- shock waves
- cavitation
All gunshot wounds are…
contaminated!
How do you treat low velocity projectile wounds?
- local debridement
- local wound lavage
- sterile dressing
- do NOT explore wound to find bullet
how do you treat high velocity projectile wounds?
- wound exploration & debridement
- orthopaedic repair
- open-wound management
Gunshot wounds to the abdominal cavity require…
surgical exploration because there is a high incidence of bowel perforation and peritonitis
Gunshot wounds to the thorax may be treated
conservatively
When should you remove bullet fragments?
- fragments lodged in a joint
- fragment lodged in critical location
knife wounds typically require
local wound management
Impalement injuries should be…
explored
impalement objects should be left in place until…
exploration when feasible
Oropharyngeal stick injuries may need
radiographs and ultrasounds
Thermal burns can be caused by:
iatrogenic, fire or flame, scalds, stoves/radiators, automobile mufflers, etc.
What is the pathophysiology of burns?
- major thermal injuries can be serious and complex
- hypovolemic shock
- extravascular fluid sequestration
- RBC destruction
- Myocardial depression
- Arrhythmias
- Cardiac failure, etc
Classification of burns depends on…
the depth of injury (severity)
% of surface area - TBSA
What goes into supportive care for burns?
- opioid analgesia
- IV hypertonic saline, non-protein colloids
- respiratory support
- transfusion support
- nutritional support
- gastroduodenal ulcer prevention
How can you protect burns from turning septic?
- contain & control bacterial colonization
- prevent accumulation of purulent discharge
- prevent secondary contamination
- prevent additional tissue trauma
- early removal necrotic skin and eschar
