Surgical Preparation Protocol

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Goal: To provide consistent and efficient surgical preps of every patient, insuring minimal bacterial contamination to the patient and surgical site in the most effective manner

Timeframe: An ongoing and constant level of quality patient care regardless of procedure being performed, or employee doing prep Oversight: Surgeon and office manager will oversee all surgical patients and their prep.

Order of Prep:

-Allow animal to urinate and/or defecate

-Make sure animal is in a safe and stable anesthetic plane

before starting surgical preparation

• Know the procedure and what boundaries of the surgical site need to be shaved/scrubbed/plucked

• Know orthopedic scrub procedures as well as normal soft tissue preps

• Pre-bathe patients when procedure dictates to remove excess hair, debris, and parasites

- Have supplies ready and in good working order

 

 

After a patient is in a safe surgical plane and under anesthetic supervision, proceed to shave all planes of skin going with the grain of the hair growth. Repeat shave against the grain of hair. Know the boundaries of surgical site prior to shaving and shave accordingly. Transport into surgical suite and use tie downs on all four legs (unless procedure calls for otherwise). Don latex gloves and begin the scrub procedure. Using the chlorhexidine, scrub the site vigorously in a lateral motion for approximately three minutes. Then use the iodine to cover the site. Wipe away any excess liquids.

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Surgical Team Preparation Protocol

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The County Seat Animal Hospital has created a protocol to ensure proper preparation of all employees involved with surgical procedures. All employees must understand the following goals and have mastered the procedures listed:

Sterile Technique

Sterile: Free from living organisms and especially micro-organisms.

Only the veterinarian and student veterinarian are allowed in the surgical suite while a surgery is in process. Everyone who enters the surgical suite must wear appropriate attire:

 

Gown/Gloves/Hat/mask/shoe covers/eye protection 

 

 

All gowns and gloves are required to be sterile.

Prior to entering the surgical suite, the veterinarian and staff must scrub using the waterless scrub outside of the surgical suite.

The skin must be thoroughly scrubbed, nails cleaned underneath, hair pulled back, and proper surgical attire present when entering the surgical suite.

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