STEP by STEP Surgery

Step-by-Step Pet Surgery at the Animal and Bird Medical Center of Palm Harbor

Meet Kylie

Kylie is going to have Ovariohysterectomy Surgery today.

This is Kylie checking in for surgery with her owner Savanna signing paperwork for her Ovariohysterectomy and pre-surgical bloodwork.

We have an Open Hospital Policy; this gives all owners the ability to remain with their pet throughout any procedure.

Kylie, weighing in for surgery

Next step includes prepping and placing the IV catheter, so we can administer IV medications and fluids. Just like people.

Spraying Bitter Apple to prevent her from chewing at her catheter before surgery.

Before surgery we do pre-surgical blood work to test for any abnormalities that can interfere or complicate anesthesia.

Just like people this is essential before surgery for safe anesthesia.

Depending on age we have 3 different levels of pre-surgical bloodwork that we run. Mini, Routine, and Complete.

Pre-Surgery

Dr. Koulianos performing a physical exam. Each patient gets this exam done before surgery.

Start Anesthesia

Now starting with anesthesia. Kylie is being an amazing patient for us through this whole surgery.
In the following pictures you see our intubation process. All animals are intubated for surgery so that their airway is protected and so that we can give positive pressure ventilation for the safest anesthesia.

After intubated we then hook up Kylie to our ADS machine for positive pressure ventilation (which will breathe for her while sedated and control the amount of isoflurane gas anesthesia she gets), SPO2, and EKG to monitor her vitals. Also while sedated Kylie is unable to blink to produce tears so we apply artifial tears to both eyes while sedated to keep lubricated.

Cleaning the Area

Before moving Kylie into the surgery room we shave around the surgery site to clear the way for a sterile field.

Here we have our companion Therapy Cold Laser System which increases your pets ability to heal faster after surgery or any traumatic injury.

This system helps to ease pain, improve mobility, and speed healing. This system is also used in human hospitals for the same purposes.

Here is the ADS positive pressure ventilation in our dental suite. This allows us to regulate the amount of gas anesthesia (Isoflurane) given to each patient while sedated.

This machine is set to each patient’s weight in order to be sure they each receive the proper amount of oxygen.

This is our Surgical Suite monitoring equipment. This includes our State of the Art Wireless Patient Monitoring System.

This allows us to record and monitor Pulse Ox, SPO2, Blood Pressure, EKG, and Temperature.

All surgical packs are autoclaved and 100% sterile. We use only one pack per patient.

Dr. Koulianos scrubbing before gowning up and going into surgery.

The surgery site is then cleaned again and sterilized with surgical scrub and alcohol.

The doctor is now gowned and gloved in a sterile manner for surgery.

Now surgery has started by placing a sterile field over the area where the doctor will make the incision.
Then the abdomen is opened.
The uterus and ovaries are identified and removed.
The suture used in the abdomen is absorbable.
The doctor is then careful to check for any areas of bleeding or abnormalities.
Then the abdomen is clothes with three layers (the abdominal wall, the subcutaneous area, and skin).
During this time the anesthesia/Surgical tech is carefully monitoring the patient’s vitals.

Recovery

After surgery the patient is moved to recovery.

By using high-tech anesthetics we can quickly bring patients out of anesthesia. The pre-surgical anesthetics and pain medications make for a very smooth and calm recovery.