Theatre Practice Flashcards
Diathermy?
Diathermy?
.High frequency alternate polarity radio-wave electrical current to cut or coagulate tissue
during surgery.
What needs to be counted before and after surgery?
What needs to be counted before and after surgery?
.Swabs .Needles
.Sutures
Circulating nurse?
Circulating nurse?
.Assist with all non-sterile procedures.
Surgical knots?
Surgical knots?
.The basic surgical knot is a reef or square knot.
.A surgeon’s knot has an initial double throw, not a single throw.
.The suture loop should be loose otherwise it will compromise the vascular supply and delay healing and cause irritation to the patient.
Control haemorrhage by?
Control haemorrhage by?
.Using swabs to blot the bleed not wipe.
Post op?
Post op?
.Patient should not be left until conscious, sitting up and breathing normally.
.ET tube removed once the cough reflex returns and in cats just before to prevent laryngospasm.
Intubation?
Intubation?
.Provides a secure airway and protects it from saliva and liquids during dental work.
.Supplys oxygen and anaesthesia and reduces pollution from waste anaesthetic gases.
Laryngospasm after surgery?
Laryngospasm after surgery?
.Keep ET tube in place & get vet.
Haemorrhage after surgery?
Haemorrhage after surgery?
.Bandage
Hypothermia after surgery?
Hypothermia after surgery?
.Warm patient, set room to 21°c - 23°c and monitor temp every 10 mins.
.Give warm iv fluids, blankets, heat pads and bubble wrap.
Surgical pack shelf life?
Surgical pack shelf life?
.Repack and sterilise if not used within 6-8 weeks.
Surgery involves?
Surgery involves?
.Always involves the creation or treatment of wounds.
A wound?
A wound?
.Can be defined as an injury in which there is a forcible break in the continuity of the soft tissues.
.Wounds that are covered (moist) heal faster than open ones. Dressing should be applied to encourage moist healing.
Wound healing?
Wound healing?
1) Haemorrhage - inflammation and primary wound contraction. Haemorrhage occurs at the time of the injury. This then clots and forms a scab, which protects the wound from external contamination. Inflammation follows.
2) Proliferation - after 12 hours, epithelial proliferation starts. New cells are produced and slide over the surface of the wound. This occurs at a rate of up to 2mm per day if the wound is kept moist. After 36 hours, fibroblasts and new capillaries are produced, forming grandulation tissue. This is usually bright red and firm but is quite easily damaged.
3) Maturation - during epidermal growth new collagen is laid down and forms scar tissue. This is continually remodelled up to 2 years after the original incident.
Inflammation?
Inflammation?
.Is the reaction of normal tissue to injury and is part of the body’s natural defense mechanism.
.When cells are damaged, chemicals such as histamine and prostaglandins are released and these stimulate the inflammatory response.
.This is needed to start the healing process. Use of anti-inflammatory drugs will reduce healing in the early phases.
Factors affecting wound healing?
Factors affecting wound healing?
.Movement .Infection
.Tension .Self trauma
.Foreign material
Incised wound?
Incised wound?
.Clean straight cut with little damage to surrounding tissues, heals quickly, moderate haemorrhage e.g. scalpel, glass, tin.
.First aid - access and control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/ bandage.
Puncture wound?
Puncture wound?
.Small external wound but may be deep and causes inflammation, swelling and possibly an abscess e.g. teeth, thorn or nail.
.First aid - access and control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/ bandage.
Lacerated wound?
Lacerated wound?
.Large irregular opened wound with damage to the skin and tissues, minimal haemorrhage, slow healing e.g. dog fight, barbed wire, broken glass
.First aid - access and control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/ bandage.
Abrasion?
Abrasion?
.Graze wound, painful due to exposure of nerves, the epidermis is grazed away and exposes the dermis.
.Caused by friction of the skin against a rough surface e.g. like rope or carpet.
.First aid - clip away hair, clean wound, apply a sterile dressing.
.Painful due to exposure of nerves in the dermis
Contusion wound ?
Contusion wound?
.Blood vessels rupture under the skin causing haemorrhage. The blood seeps into the tissues and eventually clots. Warm and discolouration of skin.
.Discolouration under the skin, swelling and warm
.First aid - apply cold compress
Avulsion wound?
Avulsion wound?
.A flap of skin with only one end attached to the body.
.Occurs where there is forcible separation of a tissue from its attachments e.g. dog fights
.Access and control haemorrhage, remove foreign bodies if safe, clip away hair, clean wound, apply sterile dressing/ bandage.
Degloving?
Degloving?
.Separation of a tissue from its attachments or damage to the blood supply e.g. tissue dies and sloughs away over a period of time e.g. road traffic accident.
Shear wound?
Shear wound?
.Removal of skin and damage to bones or joints
Haematoma wound?
Haematoma wound?
.Blood loss and a pocket of blood develops under the skin e.g. blunt trauma
Flushing a wound?
Flushing a wound?
.Use sterile hartmann’s solution or 0.9% saline.
Wet to dry dressing?
Wet to dry dressing?
.Swabs soaked in hartmann’s solution put on wound, when it drys out and is removed it takes with it any educate and debris.
.Change every 12 - 24 hours.
Dry to dry dressing?
Dry to dry dressing?
.Dry swabs are put on a wound so that debris and necrotic tissue adheres to the swabs and is pulled away when the dressing is changed.
.Is painful so not commonly used.
Bandages can help to?
Bandages can help to?
.Protect a wound from bacterial contamination.
.Debride a wound.
.Provide comfort and pain relief.
.Prevent patient interference.
.Support an area with a wound and reduce movement of the skin edges.
.Prevent desiccation of a wound.
.Reduce the development of swelling and oedema.
.Absorb any exudates.
.Provide a better appearance of the wound.
Bandage care?
Bandage care?
.Must not be allowed to get wet.
.Patient not to interfere with it e.g. buster collar, sprays.
.Check regularly for signs of damage, infection, healing.
Bandage layers?
Bandage layers?
.Primary or contact layer - this touches the wound and must be sterile.
.Secondary or intermediate layer - pudding, usually added for comfort or absorption
.Tertiary or protective layer - applied over the other layers to hold them in place, prevent interference and minimise contamination from the environment.
Drains?
Drains?
.Device that allows fluid or air to pass from a wound or body cavity to the surface e.g. abscesses, seromas.
.Most common drain - is a soft flexible tube known as the penrose drain.
Desiccation?
Desiccation?
.Having had all moisture removed.