ACVS Veterinary Surgery cheat sheet

Cranial cruciate ligament rupture: tibial plateau angle (TPA) > 14° increases risk; TPLO aims to reduce TPA to ~5°.

Fracture repair: AO principles-anatomical reduction, stable fixation, preservation of blood supply, early mobilization.

Patellar luxation: medial luxation most common in small breeds; grading I–IV based on severity and reducibility.

Perineal urethrostomy: indicated for recurrent urethral obstruction in male cats; preserve bulbourethral glands to avoid stricture.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus: decompress with trocarization, then surgery (gastropexy) to prevent recurrence.

Hip dysplasia: triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) considered in young dogs with minimal osteoarthritis; total hip replacement for severe cases.

Anal sac disease: express sacs; if recurrent, anal sacculectomy with careful dissection to avoid nerve damage.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome: correct stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules; may need tracheostomy in severe cases.

Equine colic: exploratory celiotomy indicated for unrelenting pain, distended loops, or positive abdominocentesis.

Bovine cesarean section: left flank approach; aftercare includes uterine lavage and antibiotics.

Equine castration: open or closed technique; complications include hemorrhage, edema, infection, and evisceration.

Septic arthritis in foals: joint lavage and systemic antibiotics; arthroscopy for debridement if not responsive.

Ruminant rumenotomy: indicated for foreign body (hardware disease); perform in standing animal with local anesthesia.

Equine laryngeal hemiplegia: prosthetic laryngoplasty (tie-back) to abduct arytenoid; complication: cough due to aspiration.

Bovine digit amputation: for severe foot rot or fracture; remove distal phalanx and close with heel incision.

Equine sinusitis: trephination and lavage; primary sinusitis often secondary to dental disease.

Halsted's principles: gentle tissue handling, meticulous hemostasis, strict asepsis, minimal tension, preservation of blood supply.

Suture selection: absorbable (e.g., poliglecaprone, polyglactin 910) for internal tissues; non-absorbable (e.g., nylon, polypropylene) for skin.

Wound healing phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, remodeling; epithelialization begins within 24 hours.

Antibiotic prophylaxis: administer within 60 minutes before incision; re-dose every 90 minutes for cefazolin.

Anesthetic monitoring: heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, SpO2, ETCO2, temperature; hypotension defined as MAP < 60 mmHg.

Fluid therapy: crystalloids (e.g., LRS) at 10-20 mL/kg/h for maintenance; colloids for oncotic support.

Surgical asepsis: sterile gown and gloves, cap, mask; skin preparation with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine.

Electrocautery: use for hemostasis; avoid in patients with pacemakers or in areas with flammable gases.

Tumor staging: TNM system (tumor size, lymph node, metastasis); essential before curative-intent surgery.

Margins: aim for 2-3 cm lateral and one fascial plane deep for most malignant tumors; confirm with histopathology.

Mast cell tumors: grade (Patnaik or Kiupel) and stage; surgical excision with wide margins; adjunctive therapy (e.g., toceranib) for high-grade.

Osteosarcoma: limb-sparing surgery or amputation; adjuvant chemotherapy (carboplatin) improves survival.

Hemangiosarcoma: often splenic; splenectomy for emergency control; chemotherapy (doxorubicin) may prolong survival.

Radiation therapy: used for local control; palliative for pain; side effects include radiation dermatitis.

Chemotherapy safety: handle cytotoxic drugs with gloves, gown, and closed-system transfer devices.

Lymph node mapping: sentinel node identification with dyes or radioisotopes to ensure appropriate excision.