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Chapter 14 Surgical Room Skills 257

(a)

(b) (c) (d)

FIGURE 14.10 Non‐rebreathing system and rebreathing bags and hoses: (a) non‐rebreathing system; (b) 1, 2, and 3 L rebreathing bags; (c) “F”
rebreathing hoses; (d) “Y” rebreathing hoses.

repacked or stored. A specially made lubricant for sur-
gical instruments must be used to keep them in good
working order. Don’t pile the basket too full and don’t
mix instruments made of different metals because the
instruments do not get as clean and the different metals
may react with each other causing discoloration or cor-
rosion. Change the water and detergent for each load by
unclamping the hose located on the back of the cleaner.
Make sure the hose is in the sink before unclamping it!

Learning Exercise

Develop a protocol for taking care of the surgical
instruments properly in order to extend their
lifespans.
FIGURE 14.11 Brush cleaning a surgical instrument.

used to get all the debris off the instrument (Figure 14.11).
It is rinsed thoroughly and if available put into an ultra- Assembling Surgical Packs
sonic cleaner (Figure 14.12). This is a machine that pro-
duces bubbles that implode on the surface of the Assembling surgical packs is often delegated to the
instrument knocking the microscopic debris off. This veterinary assistant. It is important to pay attention to
cleaner requires non‐suds‐producing detergent. The details when assembling these packs as the instruments
instruments are put into a wire basket with the jaws open, and materials contained therein are vital to the success
the basket is lowered into the water and detergent. A of a surgery. In order to select the appropriate instru-
setting of 5 minutes is set on the dial that also turns the ments, it is important to be able to identify the surgical
cleaner on. After the cycle, the instruments are rinsed instruments listed in Table 14.1. Take note of their size
thoroughly once more. The hinges on the instruments and the serrations on the jaws to distinguish one from
should be lubricated and allowed to dry before being another.