Theatre Practice

Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) play an important role in infection control, maintenance and organisation of the operating theatre. This chapter will discuss the factors influencing the development of infection, the operating theatre suite, hazards in the operating theatre, maintenance and cleaning of the operating theatre, the surgical patient, perioperative preparation of the patient, preparation of the surgical team, draping the patient, surgical assistant, instrumentation, care and maintenance of surgical instruments, surgical equipment, suture materials and suture patterns and sterilisation.