Foreword Preface Abbreviations PART 1: General principles 1: The veterinary nurse and minor surgery - Definition and scope of minor surgery - Role of the veterinary nurse - Interpretation of the RCVS schedule 3 (and possibly appropriate USA guidelines) re nurses' role in minor surgical procedures - The interplay between vet and nurse in nurse-performed minor surgery (communication, training, professional support, etc.) - Personal learning, development and self-assessment 2. The minor surgical patient - Owner communication - Admitting the patient - The anaesthetic/surgical consent form - Pre-anaesthetic history review, nurse examination and health check - Planning operating theatre lists and time 3. Premedication and patient preparation - Rationale and review of common sedative/premedication drugs - Injection routes and techniques for premedication - Placement of i.v. catheters and basics of surgical fluid administration - Analgesic drugs and pain management - Pre- and post-operative antibiotics - Preparation of the surgical skin site 4. General anaesthesia -Rationale and review of commonly used drugs - Intubation techniques - Common anaesthetic breathing systems - Monitoring anaesthesia - Anaesthetic emergencies and resuscitation (also a chart in the inside back cover) 5. Wound dressings and bandages - Types of dressing and their indications especially following minor surgery - Application techniques and management - Complications from dressings PART 2: Minor surgical techniques 6. Wound management - Review of wounds and wound healing - Wound classification - First aid for simple and complex wounds - Open management and minor surgical debridement - Management of complicated wounds - Wound healing products - Hydrotherapy 7. Principles of soft tissue surgery - Review of important surgical instruments, their use and care - Review of important suture materials and their applications - Practical suture patterns for minor surgery - Halstead's principles of tissue handling - Dealing with bleeding - Surgical drains - Postoperative wound care 8. Common surgical procedures - Skin wound closure - Skin surface tumours and subcutaneous growths - Surgical management of abscesses - Skin biopsy techniques - Ear surgery and aural haematoma - Tail amputation for trauma or disease - Digit amputation - Dew claw and nail removal - Dental and oral surgery - Jugular and intraosseous catheter placement - Acting as the scrubbed assistant in major surgery - Veterinary acupuncture 9. The postoperative patient - The recovery phase - Indicators of pain and postoperative analgesia - Discharging the patient - Postoperative checks - Postoperative complications following minor surgery Appendix: Emergency procedures Glossary of surgical terms and definitions Self-assessments Further reading list Index
