Page 268 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

252 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

Cleaning and Maintaining Start by gathering all of the used surgical packs and

the Surgery Suite towels and take them to the laundry. Take the open sur-
gical packs to the sink where the instruments are placed
in cold water to soak until they can be cleaned. When
The goal of a surgical procedure is to restore health or you find the scalpel handle with the blade, carefully
function and in veterinary medicine also to stop procre- remove the blade before putting the handle into the
ation. All surgeries must be done aseptically in order to cold water. This is accomplished by using a needle holder
prevent nosocomial infections. Organisms enter when the or large hemostat to lift a lower corner of the blade up
skin integrity is altered from the incision made to access and sliding it forward off the handle. Do not do this with
the interior of the body. This altered skin integrity bare fingers as the blade is sharp and contaminated with
increases the risk that pathogens gain access to the body. blood which could lead to a painful and possibly infected
When the veterinary team adheres to aseptic techniques cut. Cleaning the instruments will be covered later in the
in preparing instruments, equipment, the surgical suite, chapter. Sort the cloth wraps and gowns from the towels
the patient, and the personnel, it reduces the risk of infec- and start a load as per the instructions in Chapter 4.
tion from a surgical procedure. The veterinary assistant Return to the surgical suite with a broom, fresh mop,
has an important role in making sure the surgical suite is and bucket filled with diluted disinfectant for later use.
cleaned thoroughly and is ready to be used for surgeries. Gather the spray disinfectant and paper towels. Start
Chapter 4 discussed cleaning and disinfecting the with the surgical lights hanging above the surgery table.
wards and treatment areas of the hospital and those con- Turn them off and using spray disinfectant and paper
cepts are a good starting point. However, the surgical suite towels clean the entire light and handles thoroughly.
must be maintained at a higher level of cleanliness than Look for the removeable handles that are autoclaved for
other parts of the clinic. The surgical suite consists of each surgery day. Remove them and place them with the
three areas: the prep room, surgery room, and recovery. other surgical items to be cleaned and sterilized. Move
When surgeries are finished for the day, begin your other items to the prep room for cleaning and storing as
clean with the cleanest to the dirtiest room. The order of you clean the surgery room.
cleaning would be the surgery room, prep room, and Move to the surgical table next. It too must be cleaned
finally the recovery room. After each daily round of sur- thoroughly which may entail lifting the side panels to
geries, the suite must be cleaned from top to bottom. access the drip tray and the inside edges of the panel.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

FIGURE 14.1 Surgical table.