Page 14 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery

10 PRESURGICAL PREPARATION AND ASSESSMENT

suited for sterilizing heat- and moisture-sensitive

. BOX 2-1 . -.~a-·tiiillllll instruments and instruments with sharp edges.

Contents of a Typical General Pack Major advantages of this technique include a ster-

for Field 'Surge-:y · ·· ···
.
ilization time as short as 55 minutes and the pro-

4 Towel clamps duction of no toxic residuals requiring aeration to

2 Needle holders (Mayo-Hegar or Olsen-Hegar) comply with Occupational Safety and Health

1 Brown-Adson thumb forceps Administration ( OSHA) safety regulations.

l Rat tooth forceps (2 x 3 or l x 2) Cold ( chemical) sterilization, using a product

2 Straight mosquito forceps (straight or curved) such as glutaraldel1yde, provides a high level of

2 Kelly forceps (straight or curved) disinfection but does not achieve sterilization.

l Suture scissors Minimum immersion time for disinfection with

l Curved Metzenbaum scissors glutaraldehyde is approximately 45 minutes, Cold

l Curved Mayo scissors

l Straight Mayo scissors sterilization is commonly used by the large animal

2 Carmalt or Oschsner forceps surgeon for a second or third surgery of the day

1 No. 3 scalpel handle when other methods of sterilization are not avail-

30 Gauze sponges able. Solutions used for cold sterilization can be

l Hand towel very irritating to tissues. Therefore, care should be

taken to thoroughly rinse or immerse the instru-

Other Useful Equipment ments in sterile saline before use to avoid

Battery-operated headlight or other light source potential tissue damage. Specific sterilization

Knee pads protocols can be developed for your practice by

Glue to help hold drapes in place consulting further references and manufacturers'

Ropes to assist in limb positioning recommendations.l"

Small fold-up camping table on which to place

instruments

Towels

REFERENCES

1. Freeman DE: Sterilization and antiseptics. 111 Auer

extensive aeration for at least 14 hours before the JA, Stick JA, editors: Equine surgery, ed 2, Philadel-

piece of equipment ca11 be used again. phia, 1999, WB Saunders.

Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma is the latest tech- 2. Southwood LL, Baxter GM: Instrument sterilization,

nique for low-temperature ( <50°C), low-moisture skin preparation, and wound management, Vet Clin

sterilization of sensitive surgical products. It is N Arn Equine Pract 12: 173, 1996.