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Step by Step Photo Series of Surgical Prep of the Small Animal Patient

Step 1: Clipping:

Clip operative site (wide borders) and remove all hair (central vacuum).

Wipe skin with clean moist 4x4 gauze sponge to remove all hair and debris.

Hair is removed in order reduce contamination of the surgical site by bacteria on the patient's skin and in the patient's hair follicles. Shaving is a less acceptable method of removing hair because shaving damages the skin to a greater degree than clipping.

Any method of hair removal damages the patient's skin. Inflammation increases the risk of bacterial colonization. In order to reduce this risk, hair is removed immediately prior to surgery.

For orthopedic procedures on long bones, the entire limb must be clipped to dorsal midline. Wounds within the surgical site must be coated with a water soluble jelly so that they do not collect hair and debris during the process of clipping.

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Step 2:Initial Scrub

		Soak scrub brush with tap water and 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate (Nolvasan®).
		Using foam side of brush, apply mixture to entire clipped area.
		Collect and remove any loose hairs and debris.
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Step 3: Scrub Incision Site

With a new brush, scrub at the incision site for 2 full minutes.

Do not stray from the incision site.

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Step 4: Periphery Scrub

Soak a new scrub brush with tap water and Chlorhexidine Gluconate scrub.

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Step 5: Rinse

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Step 6: Final Antiseptic Spray

		The entire scrubbed area is then sprayed with a final preparation solution of 0.5% Chlorhexidine Diacetate in 70% isopropyl alcohol. This spray solution is made by diluting 1 part Nolvasan® (2% Chlorhexidine Diacetate) in 3 parts 70% isopropyl alcohol.
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