TECH147-1208 : Equine Surgical Assistance and Anesthesia Basics

INSTRUCTOR:
Cheryl Marlowe, VA, PM

DATES:
December 29, 2008-February 5, 2009
Real Time Sessions: Monday evenings, January 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2009; 9:00pm-10:30pm pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to give the basic understanding of operating room nursing protocol and anesthesia. Throughout the course we will focus on the importance of team building an efficient and professional equine surgical team. The course will discuss identification of basic instruments, how to prepare them for sterilization and surgical prep procedures. Intra-operative assisting will cover preparedness for the surgeon and the proper opening of sterile packs. Anesthesia will cover the basic and most commonly used drugs and the anesthetist's responsibilities from pre-surgery to recovery.

Ms. Marlowe has worked as an anesthetist and practice manager for equine clinics in South Florida since 1978. She has taught veterinary technicians and veterinary staff equine anesthesia and surgical assistance and frequently consults concerning both equine anesthesia and practice management.

This course touches on many aspects of the surgery room protocol and anesthesia for the beginning equine surgery or anesthesia technician. It is designed to give an overview of what an equine veterinary technician's job entails in the surgery room.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

• describe the importance of sterile prep procedures.
• distinguish good communication with the surgeon and anesthetist.
• explain basic anesthesia for the surgery room from induction to recovery.
• prepare for various types of surgery.
• demonstrate how to open sterile packs.
• discuss and demonstrate the importance of proper cleanup.
• give examples of the instruments in a basic surgical pack.

TEXTBOOK: There are no required texts. The instructor recommends:

• Doherty, T. & Valverde, A. (2006). Manual Of Equine Anesthesia and Analgesia. Blackwell Publishing. VIN Store: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99711

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Pre-surgical preparation
Content: Our first lecture will focus on pre-surgery preparation for the operating room, veterinary technician and anesthetist. We will cover setting up the surgery table and placement of surgery instrument tables and equipment. In addition, we will review the surgical and anesthetic preparation of the horse.

Week 2: Anesthetic induction
Content: This lecture will cover the surgical preparation of the surgery site and setup of the surgery room. Anesthetic induction of the horse, positioning and securing the horse properly on the table will follow. We will also cover switching to inhalant anesthesia (if available), attaching ECG leads and pulse oximeter and placing an invasive blood pressure line for monitoring the patient throughout surgery.

Week 3: Surgery
Content: This week we will discuss how to gown in the surgeon and anesthetist and review that the patient and room are ready for surgery. Important aspects of sterility and effectiveness will be the focus including how to open drapes and packs properly. Surgery light positioning and anticipation of the surgeon's needs as well as what to do and what not to do while in the surgery room will be covered. We will review the nursing aspects of monitoring the horse and anesthetic depth.

Week 4: Recovery and post-op
Content: Moving the patient from surgery and into recovery safely and recovery techniques do's and don'ts will be the nursing focus of this final week. In addition, surgery room clean up, instrument cleanup and care, and preparing the surgery packs for autoclaving will be covered. The responsibility of the anesthetist after the horse is up including medical records will finish up this course.

LIBRARY MATERIALS: Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS: Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 6

TUITION:
$120 ($108.00 early bird special if enrolled before December 15, 2008).
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** NOTE: Enrollment will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

For More Information on how our online CE courses work please read the following:

• Minimal computer requirements for participating in VSPN and VPSNCE
• How to's of online CE
• Policies and Procedures

TO REGISTER:

1. Each person must individually be a registered member of VSPN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free.
2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
3. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.

Note: "This course has been approved for continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

---

COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VSPN or VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.
Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

---

** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator
VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950, ext 187

Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950

[ CE MAIN | COURSE CATALOG | RACE/GETTING CREDITS | ONLINE CE HOW TO | SUGGEST A COURSE | VIN MAIN ]

---

800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035 777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616 Copyright 2000, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.