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254 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

FIGURE 14.4 Laryngoscope and blades.

Endotracheal tubes sizes 3.5 to 7.5
Cuff

Cuff air
connector

FIGURE 14.3 Prep sink – used and in need of cleaning!

hair, feces, or toenail clippings with a paper towel then
scrub with a scrub brush and soap. Rinse thoroughly and
spray with disinfectant and allow it to air dry. Replace the
rack on top and then use disinfectant and paper towels
to wipe down the outside surfaces of the tub. As seen in
Figure 14.3, many prep tables will have drawers or a cup-
board in the lower part and these should be checked for
hair accumulation and restocked. If there is hair or drips
of debris present in the drawers, they should be emptied
out, cleaned with a disinfectant, and restocked.
The prep room usually has one or more counters that
are utilized for staging anesthetics and other supplies FIGURE 14.5 Endotracheal tubes sizes 3.5 to 7.5.
during the day’s surgeries. If the surgeries are finished
for the day, reusable items need to be cleaned and put spontaneous hole or it can be damaged against a tooth.
away and the disposable supplies restocked. One such Use a 6 or 12 mL syringe, pull the full amount of air
item may be the laryngoscope and blades. This is an into the syringe then connect it to the cuff adapter
instrument used to assist with intubation (Figure 14.4). It (Figure 14.6), and push the plunger to push the air into
runs on batteries housed in the handle, so it is OK to the cuff until it is full, but not overfull as that can pop
spray it with disinfectant and wipe it dry with a paper the cuff. Let the tube set for a few minutes to see if the
towel and put it in its proper drawer. cuff holds air. If it does, then deflate the cuff and pro-
Other items include endotracheal tubes (Figure 14.5). ceed to clean it; if it doesn’t, throw it away and alert the
The ones that were used for the day’s surgeries need to inventory manager to order a new one.
be clean and dry before storing. Check the cuffs to To clean the endotracheal tube, move to the sink,
make sure the tube is still useable. They can develop a spray disinfectant into the tube and on the outside of the