Page 8 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery
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4 PRESURGICAL PREPARATION AND ASSESSMENT
communicated to the owner that withholding order to be prepared for the unanticipated need
feed will alter gastrointestinal flora and predispose to expand the surgical site.
the horse to colitis. Immediately prior to the operation, the pro-
Tetanus vaccination status of the patient posed surgical site should undergo a surgical
should be assessed and, if necessary, a tetanus scrub consisting of at least 5 minutes' exposure
booster should be administered. If the patient has to either povidone-iodine 7.So/o surgical scrub
never received tetanus toxoid and the surgery is (Betadine surgical scrub) or chlorhexidine glu-
an elective procedure, the procedure should be conate 4% antimicrobial skin cleanser (Hibiclens;
delayed until appropriate tetanus prophylaxis is Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Inc., Wilmington, Del.).
established. Patients that have not received tetanus The final surgical preparation consists of alter-
toxoid within the past 6 months, but are on a con- nating 70% alcohol or isotonic saline rinse with
tinning immunization program, should receive a the surgical scrub using aseptic technique. Rinsing
tetanus booster. with saline or 70°/o isopropyl alcohol does not make
Prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics a difference in the antimicrobial effect of povidone-
should be judiciously administered. When indi- iodine; however, alcohol reduces the residual effect
cated, antibiotics should be administered imme- and antiseptic quality of chlorhexidine.'
diately prior to surgery at the correct dosage and
for the correct amount of time but should be dis- REFERENCES
continued as soon as possible after surgery.
When possible, the surgical site should be 1. American Association of Equine Practitioners: The
clipped (size 40 clipper blades) and prepped veterinary role in equine insurance, Lexington, Ky,
before (within 2 hours) induction, Over smooth 2000, AAEP.
areas, the hair may be shaved with a disposable 2. Stashak TS: Selected factors that affect wound
razor. A wide area surrounding the anticipated healing. In Stashak TS, editor: Equine wound man-
surgery site should be clipped and scrubbed in agement, Philadelphia, 1991, Lea & Febiger.
