BCSE Veterinary Surgical Principles 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which suture pattern is most appropriate for closing a hollow viscus such as the intestine to achieve an inverting, leak-resistant anastomosis?
- Simple interrupted
- Lembert (Correct answer)
- Ford interlocking
- Cruciate
Correct answer: Lembert
The Lembert suture pattern is an inverting pattern commonly used for gastrointestinal surgery to create a watertight, serosa-to-serosa seal.
Question 2: A dog undergoes a surgical procedure under general anesthesia. Which monitoring parameter is the BEST indicator of adequate tissue perfusion during surgery?
- End-tidal CO2
- Capillary refill time
- Mean arterial pressure above 60 mmHg (Correct answer)
- Heart rate
Correct answer: Mean arterial pressure above 60 mmHg
Mean arterial pressure above 60 mmHg is the standard threshold used to ensure adequate organ perfusion pressure during anesthesia.
Question 3: When performing a towel clamp placement for surgical draping, what is the primary purpose of securing the drape to the patient's skin?
- To mark the incision site
- To prevent drape slippage and contamination of the sterile field (Correct answer)
- To improve hemostasis at the skin edge
- To facilitate tissue retraction
Correct answer: To prevent drape slippage and contamination of the sterile field
Towel clamps anchor the drapes to the patient to prevent movement that could expose non-sterile surfaces and contaminate the operative field.
Question 4: A cat presents with a wound that is 72 hours old and moderately contaminated. What is the most appropriate wound management strategy?
- Primary closure immediately
- Delayed primary closure after wound preparation (Correct answer)
- Second-intention healing without debridement
- Immediate skin grafting
Correct answer: Delayed primary closure after wound preparation
Wounds older than 6–8 hours that are contaminated are best managed with debridement and delayed primary closure once infection risk is reduced.
Question 5: Which nerve is at greatest risk of injury during a perineal urethrostomy in a male cat?
- Pudendal nerve (Correct answer)
- Sciatic nerve
- Femoral nerve
- Obturator nerve
Correct answer: Pudendal nerve
The pudendal nerve supplies the perineal region and urethra and is in close proximity to the surgical field during perineal urethrostomy.
Question 6: Glycopyrrolate is preferred over atropine as a preanesthetic anticholinergic in some patients because it:
- Causes more pronounced bradycardia reversal
- Does not cross the blood-brain barrier or placenta (Correct answer)
- Has a shorter duration of action
- Provides better analgesia
Correct answer: Does not cross the blood-brain barrier or placenta
Glycopyrrolate is a quaternary ammonium compound that does not cross the blood-brain barrier or placenta, making it preferable in pregnant animals or when CNS effects are undesirable.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the appropriate use of electrocautery in the monopolar mode?
- Current flows between two handheld electrodes
- Current passes from the active electrode through the patient to a grounding pad (Correct answer)
- Current is confined to the tip of the instrument only
- It is safe to use near implanted pacemakers
Correct answer: Current passes from the active electrode through the patient to a grounding pad
In monopolar electrosurgery, electrical current flows from the active electrode through the patient's tissues and returns via a dispersive grounding pad placed on the patient.
BCSE Veterinary Surgical Principles 2
Which suture pattern is most appropriate for closing a hollow viscus such as the intestine to achieve an inverting, leak-resistant anastomosis?