Quality Control

MVSS performs surgeries at many hospitals in the Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.  To minimize variables and ensure the highest quality control of the surgery environment, we use our own equipment and supplies.  This includes sterile, single-use disposable gowns, gloves, drapes, suction tubing, and suture. Surgical packs are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized after each surgical procedure via steam sterilization or gas (ethylene oxide). All of the packs include sterilization indicators that verify proper sterilization. We also perform periodic biologic spore tests on our sterilization equipment to insure the highest level of quality control.

Pre-operative Patient Preparation

Dr. Garcia and Dr. Fabregas request that each of their patients are examined by them prior to anesthesia. This serves as a ‘checks and balances’ to validate the prior veterinary examination and affirm the surgical plan. Theyr request that blood chemistry and complete blood counts are completed prior to surgery or any other pertinent diagnostics based on prior discussions with your veterinarian. The patient is then prepared for anesthesia and subsequently anesthetized.  Dr. Garcia and Dr. Fabregas have uncompromising expectations for pain management. They request that all of their patients have appropriate pain management therapies in place prior to- , during, and after- surgery.  (See the section on pain management).

Patient Preparation

The surgical team brings their own hair clippers as well as a sterilized (individual for that patient) clipper blade to be used to prepare the surgical site.  The clipping of hair is performed by the MVSS surgical team.  The patient is then taken to the operating room (O.R.).  Once in the O.R. the patient’s surgical site is aseptically prepared with surgical scrub solution using sterile gloves and sponges and performed by the MVSS surgical team. The surgical site is draped off using sterile technique with single use surgical drapes in preparation for the surgery.Dr. Garcia and Dr. Fabregas are assisted by their technician during surgery.

Surgeon Preparation

Dr. Garcia and Dr. Fabregas always wear appropriate surgical attire including a surgical cap and uses only disposable, single use, high quality surgical gowns, gloves, masks.  The surgical team of two certified veterinary technicians must also subscribe to the same standards.  No one is allowed in the O.R. without a surgical cap and mask while the Surgeons are performing surgery.  Foot traffic in the operating rooms is strongly discouraged.

Surgical Equipment

As mentioned in the Quality control section, all instruments, implants, suture material, and other supplies are provided by MVSS to ensure the highest quality control and to minimize variables which could increase infection rates.

Monitoring

MVSS monitors the patients closely with an assigned veterinary technician.  All patients have an intravenous catheter in place and receive appropriate fluid therapy during surgery.  The catheter also enables the anesthetist to administer additional supportive fluids and medications as needed throughout the surgery.  The patient is placed on inhalant gas anesthesia, usually either Isoflurane or Sevoflurane, both of which are accepted by veterinary anesthesiologists.  They are placed on state of the art monitoring equipment to include: oxygen pulse oximetry, EKG, indirect blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, mean), respiratory CO2 levels, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature.  To maintain core body temperatures on every patient, we provide if necessary a forced warm air (for exterior body) machine.

Patient Aftercare

MVSS surgical team will oversee the post-op radiographs if indicated, and begin the recovery to ensure a smooth transition to your veterinarian’s team member(s) who will take over the continued recovery and aftercare.