How to Handle Surgical Instruments in the Veterinarian's Office Read more: How to Handle Surgical Instruments in the Veterinarian's Office | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6821736_handle-surgical-instruments-veterinarian_s-office.html#ixzz1wdA1HwuF

A veterinary technician is a member of the clinical team and takes pride in her work. Owners entrust the health and well-being of their animals to the clinic. When it's time for a surgical procedure, setting up a sterile field for the instruments is critical, as is their proper cleaning and sterilization afterward.

1

Put on the sterile gloves. Place the drape pack on a counter or surgery table. Reaching around the pack (not over), pull the top open away from you. Continue to pull all corners until the pack is exposed. Using your index finger and thumb, pluck the drape from the top of the pack. Shake it out, being careful not to let it touch any surface. Carefully lay the drape on the surgical tray.

2

Select the proper steri-packs of instruments for the procedure. For example, each procedure will have its own set of instruments and the packs should be labeled. Open the steri-pack and turn it upside down, allowing the contents to drop onto the drape on the tray. Using sterile forceps or a hemostat, line up the instruments. Be careful not to drop the instruments. Do not touch the instruments or allow any of the instruments to have contact with your clothing.

• 3
  Open the pack of sterile gauze and turn it upside down, allowing the gauze to fall onto the sterile field.
  
• 4
  Read the label of the container of any liquid the veterinarian will be using, if applicable, to verify it is the correct bottle and check the expiration date. Remove the top and put it on the counter upside down so that the inside of the cap is up. Place a sterile bowl onto the tray. Double-check the label on the bottle to verify. Slowly pour the liquid into the bowl, taking care not to splash the liquid onto the instruments. Replace the top and store the bottle.
  

Sterilizing Instruments

• 5
  Remove the blade from the scalpel using the hemostat and drop the blade in the bio-hazard container. Using the hemostat, pick up the suture needle and drop it into the bio-hazard container as well.
  
• 6
  Wash all the instruments in warm sudsy water using a brush similar to a toothbrush to reach into any grooves. Rinse the instruments completely and place them on a rack or towel to dry thoroughly.
  
• 7
  Gather the steri-packs and separate the sizes. Open the steri-packs and place the washed instruments inside. Any instrument that opens, such as a scissors or hemostat, should be placed inside the steri-pack in the open position. Seal the packets tightly.
  
• 8
  Label your steri-packs and date them using a specially made pen. Place them in the autoclave for steam sterilization or set them aside until it is time to run the autoclave.
  

Tips & Warnings

• Never turn your back on a sterile field or allow anything to be crossed over a sterile field. The sterile field must be approximately waist high.
• The veterinarian will have her preference of suture materials, so carefully follow her instructions for placement of suture or surgical glue materials.
• For cold sterilization of surgical instruments, after washing, place the instruments in a covered basin of sterilizing solution for four to six hours.
• Always use a hemostat, never your fingers, to remove the scalpel blade.