blades
These come in different sizes and shapes for different procedures.
Scalpel handle
It is important that the scalpel handle is the same size as the blades.
Stitch-cutting scissors
These small scissors need to be available for removing sutures.
Suture material
This may be absorbable or non-absorbable. It may also be either monofilament or braided. On the whole, monofilament nylon is the non-absorbable material recommended for suturing the skin. Polyglactin is the ideal absorbable suture material.
Suture needles
These come in various shapes. They are also either cutting or non-cutting. Generally, cutting needles will be required for the skin and non-cutting needles for soft tissue.
Tissue forceps
These forceps are for lifting tissue. A minimum of two pairs is required.
Towel clips
These are not normally required by the ambulatory clinician unless surgery is going to be performed under a general anaesthetic (GA).
Swabs
Sets of sterile swabs are required for a variety of tasks.
Equipment for the Reproductive System
Parturition is an urgent event and therefore the items listed below are vital to the ambulatory practitioner.
Calving jack
This should include a set of two short calving ropes of different colours.
Calving and lambing equipment
This should include:
• long strong calving ropes
• thin lambing ropes
• three 20 cm lengths of alkathene pipe
• a calf resuscitator pump
• calving lubricant and J lube
• doxapram hydrochloride drops
• a heavy introducer
• a thin long flexible introducer
• two small eye hooks
• an embryotomy knife
• a calf feeder bag
• resuscitation equipment
• a 5 l container, containing 0.5 l sterile water containing 20 g of sodium citrate
• a small trocar and cannula
• a large plastic bloodline
• a McLean’s knife
Embryotome
This should have a threader, a long length of embryotomy wire, a pair of small wire cutters and a set of two handles for the wire.
Vaginal speculum
These can be disposable and used with a head torch or a small hand torch. The small duckbilled type affords the very best visibility for ewes, does, sows and SACs. The large duckbilled type affords the best visibility for cows.
A dedicated box for Caesarean section
This should contain:
• Sterile instruments, including several 4 inch non-cutting and cutting curved suturing needles, one pair of needle holders, one pair of ‘Gillies’, one pair of rat-toothed dressing forceps, one pair of flat-ended dressing forceps, one scalpel blade holder, one large pair of straight scissors, four large pairs of artery forceps, two small pairs of artery forceps, and two pairs of uterus-holding forceps.
• Scalpel blades which must fit the scalpel blade holder in the sterile instrument pack.
• Polyglactin suture material.
• Monofilament nylon suture material.
• A sterile tray cloth.
• Two sterile calving ropes.
• A navel clip.
• Hair clippers (or razors).
• A sterile scrubbing brush.
• Two packets of large sterile swabs.
• A sterile embryotomy knife or a disposable embryotomy knife.
• Disposable syringes (10, 20 and 30 ml).
• Disposable needles (4 cm × 18 G).
• Pieces of cotton wool in a bag for cleaning the skin.
• Bottle of surgical spirit.
• Bottle of chlorhexidine.
• 1 × 25 ml oxytocin injection containing 10 IU/ml.
• 1 × 100 ml water for injection.
• 1 × 50 ml solution of clenbuterol hydrochloride containing 30 micro-grams/ml.
• 3 × 5 mega crystalline penicillin.
• 3 × 100 ml local anaesthetic.
• 100 ml aqueous suspension of a mixture of procaine penicillin and dihydro-streptomycin.
• Dopram drops.
• 50 ml solution of clenbuterol hydrochloride containing 30 micrograms/ml.
• A 100 ml bottle of an injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) licensed for ruminants.
• An antibiotic aerosol.
• A 5 m length of rope to be tied around the right hind leg and brought under the cow’s body so that it can be pulled if the cow is appearing to go down. This will make sure the cow falls with her left flank uppermost.
