Surgical Preparation & Anesthesia

1. Surgical Preparation & Anesthesia
EQUINE MEDICINE

2. Patient Exam & Laboratory Evaluation
 Minimum:
 Basic Physical Exam
 Temperament & Manageability
 General CBC & Chemistry Lab Work

3. Standing Surgery
 Most large animal
procedures
 Criteria
 Safe for horse & personnel
 Sick, elderly, or large animals
 Cost restrictions
 Drawbacks
 Decreased surgeon comfort
 Compromised visualization
 Possible patient motion

4. Standing Surgery
 Patient Preparation
 Depends on procedure
 Restrict feed 6-12 hr prior if possible
 Site
 Clean, dry, dust free
 Minimize external stimuli
 Instruments accessible & off ground
 Pain Control
 Chemical restraint
 Includes systemic and local
anesthesia
 Post Operative Care
 NPO until swallow returns
 Water first
 Feed 1-2 hr later (hay)
 Specific care varies with procedure

5. Standing Laceration Repair

6. General Surgery
 Ventilation Problems
 Intestines prevent normal lung expansion
 Anticholinergics
 May cause ileus
 Minimizing Anesthetic Time
 Surgical prep/clip
 IV Catheterization
 Equipment & supplies
 Patient positioning

7. General Surgery
 Mouth Cleaning
 If horse will be intubated
 Contamination Prevention
 Patient grooming/hooves covered
 Leg Protection
 Bandages or wraps
 Eye Protection
 Padding, halter removal, BNP in
eyes
 Fluid Therapy
 Correct imbalances before
induction, adjust throughout
surgery

8. Induction & Maintenanceof
General Anesthesia
 Compartment Syndrome
 Primary cause of post-anesthetic myopathy
 Clinical Signs
 Difficulty or inability to stand
 Hardening of muscles
 Acute renal failure
 Pain response signs
 Prevention
 Minimize anesthetic time
 Maintain blood pressure
 Anesthetic depth as light as possible
 Adequate padding
 Position properly

9. Induction & Maintenanceof
General Anesthesia
 Methods of Induction
 Injectable drugs/injectable drugs
 Injectable drugs/gas anesthesia
 Gas anesthesia/gas anesthesia
 Routes of Tracheal Intubation
 Orotracheal
 Nasotracheal
 Direct Tracheal
 Anesthesia Machines
 Large % rubber competes with
patient
 Patient Monitoring
 Similar to small animals
 Recovery
 Most dangerous portion of surgery