Page 33 - Clinical Manual of Small Animal Endosurgery

Rigid Endoscopy 21

dure for any reason. In any case, a dedicated operating room is preferred
whenever possible.

Operating-room layout
The video tower should be close to the table and in full view of the
surgeon; when an assistant is present, the monitor must be easily view-
able by both operators. To allow easier orientation during the procedure,
the surgeon(s), patient and monitor should be positioned in a straight
line (Fig. 1.19). The surgical telescope should be pointed towards the
video monitor for most of the time; thus, for example in laparoscopic
procedures caudal to the umbilicus, the monitor is positioned at the foot
of the patient, whereas procedures in the cranial abdomen require the
monitor to be positioned at the head of the table (Fig. 1.20). Ideally this
should be considered during operating-room design and certainly each
time surgery is planned, and the positioning and access to anaesthetic
equipment, and gas and electrical outlets, must also be considered. The

Fig. 1.19 Layout of the operating theatre with two surgeons and a single
monitor. The theatre must be arranged so that the surgeon is looking along
the endoscope, across the surgical site and towards the monitor. This makes
directing the scope and instruments easier and more comfortable for the
surgeon.