Holzman Gerianne - Surgical Patient Care for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses

This edition first published 2015 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Holzman, Gerianne, author.

Surgical patient care for veterinary technicians and nurses / Gerianne Holzman and Teri Raffel.

p. ; cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-470-95976-3 (paperback)

1. Veterinary surgical nursing. 2. Veterinary surgery. I. Raffel, Teri, author. II. Title.

[DNLM: 1. Surgical Procedures, Operativeveterinary. 2. Animal Technicians. 3. Surgery, Veterinarymethods. SF 911]

SF911.H65 2015

636.089'7dc23

2015006913

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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It is a privilege to write the Foreword to Surgical Patient Care for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses by Gerianne Holzman and Teresa (Teri) Raffel. The objective of the authors was to create a comprehensive text targeted to the Veterinary Technician interested or involved with all aspects of veterinary surgical practice. This text follows a logical progression beginning with deciphering clinical information by history taking and physical examination, then onto preoperative planning, asepsis, infection control, a description of common surgical procedures, a description of common surgical instruments and finishing with postoperative patient care. The authors support each chapter with eloquent details and illustrations derived from their clinical experience, highlighting the crucial role played by the Veterinary Technician at each step. This text offers a unique perspective for Veterinary Technicians by two very capable Veterinary Technicians and educators.

The authors, Gerianne Holzman and Teresa Raffel bring a wealth of clinical experience to this book. Both graduates of Madison Area Technical College, they quickly brought their combined talents to the academic environment of the newly created School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison, Wisconsin in the mid 1980s. When I was recruited at University of Wisconsin in 1984, I was a young and relatively nave veterinary surgeon specializing in orthopaedic surgery. Geri and Teri were instrumental in the refinement and development of my skills, both inside and outside of the operating room. Over the ensuing years, the authors have continued to educate and groom thousands of veterinary surgeons, veterinary students, and Veterinary Technicians. This book will stand as a legacy to their perseverance and endurance and will serve as a primer for all those interested in the practice of veterinary surgery.

Paul Manley, DVM, MSc, DACVS
Professor Emeritus
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Welcome to our book Surgical Patient Care for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. This book came together to address the needs of veterinary professionals in their daily patient care. Books are available for surgical assisting, surgical techniques, emergency care, anesthesia, and for other similar subjects; however, there are few books for veterinary technicians interested in expanding their knowledge of taking care of patients during the entire perioperative period. Patient care begins before the animal even enters the hospital. Triaging a condition over the phone provides information to the client and allows for a more efficient use of time and resources upon the patient's arrival. The art of history taking helps to focus the client on the specific presenting complaint as well as to determine if underlying issues may also be present. While veterinary technicians do not provide a diagnosis of a patient's condition, their ability to perform a physical exam is an invaluable resource for the veterinary surgeon. Preoperative testing varies with an individual patient's needs. Technicians possess the ability and knowledge to carry out most of these tests. Perioperative medications may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, narcotics, and other pain medications. Determination of a patient's needs by the veterinarian, prior to the procedure, helps the technician in providing ultimate care.

Surgical assisting begins the moment a patient is anesthetized. While some practices may have the veterinary technician monitor anesthesia while performing other surgical duties, ideally, enough staff are present to decrease this need for multitasking. (Anesthesia monitoring and care is not covered in this text.) Aseptic preparation of the patient, surgical suite, equipment and personnel are important responsibilities for technicians. Whether serving as a circulating technician or scrubbing-in to assist in surgery, veterinary technicians play an integral role in the surgical team. A general knowledge of common surgical procedures, the condition being addressed, special equipment needed, and postoperative care gives the technician an edge in preparing the patient and client for surgery.