You’re preparing a surgical kit for a feline spay. Which, if any, instrument should you sterilize? None of these instruments would be used for spay surgery.
The correct answer and explanation is :
For a feline spay surgery, you must sterilize all surgical instruments that will come into direct contact with the tissues of the cat to maintain a sterile surgical field and prevent infections. The essential instruments to sterilize include:
- Scalpel handle and blade – Used to make the initial incision in the skin and abdominal wall.
- Metzenbaum scissors – Used for fine dissection and cutting delicate tissues.
- Mayo scissors – Used for cutting tougher tissues, such as the linea alba.
- Thumb forceps (such as Adson or Brown-Adson) – Used to grasp and manipulate tissues.
- Hemostats (such as Kelly, Crile, or Mosquito forceps) – Used to clamp blood vessels and control bleeding.
- Needle holders (such as Olsen-Hegar or Mayo-Hegar) – Used to hold needles for suturing.
- Spay (Snook) hook – Used to locate and exteriorize the uterine horn.
- Allis tissue forceps – Used for holding tissues with a firm grip.
These instruments should be properly cleaned, packed, and sterilized using an autoclave or another effective sterilization method before surgery. If none of the instruments provided in the question are appropriate for a feline spay, then the correct answer is: None of these instruments would be used for spay surgery—implying that an incorrect set of tools was presented.
Explanation:
Sterilization is crucial in surgery because it prevents infections and ensures a safe operating environment. Feline spay (ovariohysterectomy) is a sterile procedure, meaning all instruments used must be free of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. If non-sterile instruments are used, the cat may develop serious postoperative infections, including peritonitis. Autoclaving (steam sterilization) is the gold standard for ensuring complete sterilization of surgical tools before use.