Surgical Safety Checklists

In the fast-paced world of veterinary surgery, even the most experienced teams can miss small—but critical—details. That’s where surgical checklists make all the difference.

✔️ They improve communication✔️ Reduce preventable errors✔️ Ensure every patient receives consistent, high-quality care✔️ Create a safer, more confident surgical environment for both staff and animals

Whether it’s confirming the correct patient, reviewing anesthesia plans, or checking instrument sterility, these simple tools lead to safer surgeries and better outcomes.

It’s not just good practice—it's lifesaving.

Below are just some suggestions for what to put into a surgical checklist. It is important to note however, that you can design your own checklist that suits your practice. For example, if you don't have cautery, you won't need to check the plate is contacting the patient. If you are not performing any major surgeries, you can skip the blood loss question etc. I have put in bold, the minimum things I would recommend to include.

PRE-INDUCTION

• Confirm correct patient

• Confirm procedure and any additional procedures (e.g. nail clip!)

• Bloodwork completed?

• Known allergies and current medications

• What is the ASA grade? (to determine anaesthetic risk)

• Is more than 5% blood loss anticipated?

• Antibiotics required at induction?

IN THEATRE PRIOR INCISION

• Patient name

• Procedure, site and patient position confirmed

• Has asepsis been confirmed

• Any special equipment required?

• Complete contact with monopolar plate?

• Any specific patient concerns - aspiration, blood loss, other?

• Any specimens to be collected?

• Swab count performed?

END OF PROCEDURE PLANNING

• Analgesia, antibiotic, nutrition, exercise, monitoring and fluid plan to be noted

• Radiographs required?

• Swab count

• Specimens labelled and who is sending?

• Note any equipment issues or 'near misses' in terms of complications