MEDICINE SURGERY AND ANAESTHESIOLOGY
Learning outcomes of the course unit
To allow students in Veterinary Medicine to know and understand the main surgical tools and procedures and the basic elements of anesthesiology.
D1 – KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the training the student must demonstrate that he/she is able to:
1. define the main basic concepts regarding orthopedic and soft tissue surgery and anesthesia of animals, including laboratory animals and exotic pets;
2. know and understand instruments and technique useful to perform a surgical procedure;
3. know, understand and discuss anesthetic techniques and managements related to the species, pathology, procedure and physical status of the patient;
4. know the current rules regarding ethics’ code, drug management and animal welfare.
D2 – APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDESTANDING
At the end of the training the student must demonstrate that he/she is able to:
1. apply the basic concepts regarding orthopedic and soft tissue surgery and plan a surgery;
2. formulate a suitable anesthetic protocol for the patient in relation to the species, pathology and procedure;
3. discuss a clinical case and to point out tools and techniques useful to perform a surgical procedure taking account of animal welfare too.
D3 – MAKING JUDGEMENTS
At the end of the training the student will be able to judge clinical cases in relation to the pathologies:
1. choosing autonomously the surgical medical tools more suitable to deal with a surgery;
2. formulating autonomously the most suitable anesthetic protocol and management.
D4 – COMMUNICATION SKILLS
At the end of the training the student must demonstrate that he/she is able to:
1. express ideas, opinions and concepts regarding the main surgical tools and procedures and the basic elements of anesthesiology with appropriate words;
2. read, translate, understand and summarize scientific reports in Italian and English languages;
3. quickly identify the topic of a scientific discussion, express yourself clearly with appropriate words and give their contribution to the topic;
4. communicate clearly and comprehensibly with the owner with the aim to expose the basics of the surgical procedure and the problems and risks related to the anesthesia.
D5 – LEARNING SKILLS
At the end of the training the student must be able to:
1. find and learn independently the new scientific guidelines in the field of surgical tools and procedures and anesthesiology;
2. learn the proper manual dexterity of the basic surgical and anesthetic procedures;
3. understand the importance of pain therapy in order to improve postoperative outcome and to respect animal welfare;
4. develop actions to prevent and control pathologies that may require surgery and anesthesia.
Prerequisites
All of the courses provided for by the teaching regulations (pharmacology-toxicology-chemotherapy; Diagnostic imaging - Veterinary radiology - Surgical pathology)
Course contents summary
The surgical room. Surgical instruments. Sterilization. Immobilization of surgical patient. Injection. Hemostasis. Centesis. Cateterism.
Bandage. Patient preparation. Principles of asepsis and antisepsis and
antibiotic role. Surgical planning. Surgical theatre. Preparation of the
surgeon. Dieresis and synthesis of soft tissues. Suture materials, knots
and sutures. Osteosynthesis: internal fixation (nail, screws, plates,
cerclage), external fixation. Wound treatment. Drains. Reconstructive
surgery. Nutritional support in hospitalised dogs and cats. Principles of anaesthesia in small and large animals, laboratory animals and exotic pets. Preanesthetic assessment. Preanesthetics. Injectable and inhalation anesthetics. Anesthetic machines and breathing systems. Ventilation. Monitoring. Local and regional techniques. Fluid therapy. Analgesia.
Pain management in dog, cat, horse, cattle, swine, sheep, rabbit: preemptive Analgesia, intraoperative Analgesia, postoperative Analgesia, love tender care, acupuncture. Use of analgesics drugs for acute and chronic pain management: opioids, alpha2-agonists, Fans, local anesthetic drugs, ketamine, corticosteoids, amantadine, gabapentin.
Anesthesia for selected diseases. Anesthetic emergencies.
Recommended readings
Fossum Theresa Welch: Chirurgia dei Piccoli Animali. Masson Editore.
Slatter Douglas: Chirurgia dei piccoli animali. Antonio Delfino Editore.
Aurelio Muttini: Medicina Operatoria veterinaria. Antonio Delfino Editore.
Federico Corletto: Anestesia del cane e del gatto. Poletto Editore. Bufalari Lachin: Anestesia - Cane, gatto e animali non convenzionali. Elsevier.
Lumb & Jones: Veterinary anesthesia and analgesia. Blackwell Publishing
Teaching methods
Lectures and practices
Assessment methods and criteria
The check of learning outcome described by the descriptors D1 and, in part, D2 and D3 will be made through a written test consisting of 30 multiple choice questions. These questions aim to verify knowledge, understanding and making judgments even in choosing, in practice, the most suitable solution for a clinical case.
Some of the learning outcomes described by descriptors D2, D3 and D4 and all of those of D5 will not be evaluated. Nevertheless during the practical exercises the students, divided into small groups, must be analyze and evaluate a clinical case and, even with the aid of the professor, find a solution to the problem.
Other informations
Indications will be given on how to carry out a bibliographic search and how to read and critically review the information contained in scientific articles.
