Page 82 - Clinical Manual of Small Animal Endosurgery

70 Clinical Manual of Small Animal Endosurgery

Ulnar nerve

Median nerve

Median artery

1

2 3

Fig. 3.3 Medial view of the elbow joint showing portal locations: 1, egress
portal; 2, arthroscopic portal; 3, instrument portal.

distension of the joint. Using an irrigation pump, a fluid-ingress pressure
of 70–100 mmHg with low flow (up to 20%) is recommended. A floor
fluid-scavenging device should be positioned and suction turned on to
collect waste irrigation fluid (see Fig. 2.8).
The joint should be systematically explored (see Chapter 2 in this
volume) and the arthroscopic view is returned to the craniomedial com-
partment of the joint. Next the instrument portal is created as follows:
approximately 10 mm cranial to the arthroscope portal a 22-gauge needle
is inserted perpendicular to the skin and almost parallel to the scope,
aiming to place the needle tip into the articular space, just cranial to the