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VSPN CE Course TECH178-0213: Fundamentals of Small Animal Anesthesia Module 2

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INSTRUCTOR(S): Darci Palmer, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia) and Brenda Feller, CVT, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia)
COURSE OPEN: February 28-April 7, 2013
REAL TIME SESSION (RTS): Thursdays, March 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2013; 9:00pm-10:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area.

*The instructors for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend one of the Practice Sessions.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course is focused towards the technician who routinely deals with anesthesia case management. Veterinarians are highly encouraged to enroll with their veterinary technicians to work as a team in anesthesia. Module 1 is a prerequisite for Module 2 to help insure a complete understanding of the basic principles of anesthesia before learning how to develop an anesthesia protocol. These modules are approved CE for those applicants applying for their VTS (Anesthesia).

VSPN CE Course: This course is RACE approved for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Course Description:
Module 2 will continue to build on the foundation principles of canine and feline anesthesia covered in Module 1. The focus of Module 2 will be on anesthesia drugs used for premedication, induction and maintenance; pertinent information regarding induction and recovery; the use of intra-operative pain management techniques such as local/regional blocks and analgesic constant rate infusions; use of ancillary drugs intra-operatively; and common anesthetic complications that may arise at induction, intra-operative and/or post-operative. Case scenarios will be presented during the real time sessions to highlight key points about the drugs and techniques. Participants will be encouraged to take the information presented each week and use it to construct an overall perspective of anesthesia case management. At the end of the course, participants will be able to effectively collaborate with their veterinarian in the development of anesthesia protocols and manage a patient through all phases of anesthesia care.

This course consists of four (4) ninety (90) minute Real Time Sessions, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, a mandatory end-of-course test, and may include online multiple choice quizzes (after each Real Time Session). Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.
*A portion of this course will be an audio presentation, please be prepared to listen.

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to discuss and interpret Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructors:
Darci Palmer has worked exclusively in veterinary anesthesia medicine for 12 years and currently works in the Small Animal Anesthesia Department at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. She lectures at the national and local level and provides anesthesia consulting for private practices. Brenda Feller developed an interest in anesthesia as a student at Michigan State University. After graduation she worked in a general practice for a few years before moving on to the Anesthesia Department at the University of Illinois Veterinary College. In specialty practice her main focus has been anesthesia and pain management. She is also a featured speaker on the topic of anesthesia at a variety of veterinary conferences in the United States and Canada. Both Brenda and Darci are VSPN message board moderators for the anesthesia and pain management folders.

Course Outline:
Week 1: (Real Time Session March 7): Pre-anesthetic Drugs
Content: We will begin with the advantages of pre-anesthetic drugs including an overview of drug classes used as premedications to include anticholinergics, phenothiazines, benzodiazepines, alpha-2 agonists, and opioids. Case based discussions on appropriate premedication protocols for specific patients will be included to increase participants' recognition and use of these medications.

Week 2: (Real Time Session March 14): Induction Period and Recovery Period
Content: We will review the stages of anesthesia. An overview of injectable drugs commonly used for induction will include barbiturates, dissociatives, propofol, etomidate, alfaxalone and opioids. An overview of currently used inhalants and their physical properties along with considerations during the post-operative period will complete this week. Case based discussions on appropriate induction and maintenance protocols for specific patients will be included to increase participants' recognition and use of these medications.

Week 3: (Real Time Session March 21): Pain Management
Content: This week will focus on an overview of pain physiology and the drugs used for pain management, indications for specific local and regional techniques, how to perform local and regional blocks, and the use of intra-operative analgesic constant rate infusions. Case based discussions on appropriate pain management protocols will be included to increase participants' recognition and use of these medications.

Week 4: (Real Time Session March 28): Ancillary Drugs and Anesthetic Complications
Content: In this final week we will focus on the role of sympathomimetic and neuromuscular blocking agents in anesthesia, descriptions of predictable complications such as hypoventilation, hypoxemia, hypotension, hypovolemia and hypothermia; complications that can arise from human error; cardiopulmonary arrest during anesthesia; and an overview of common arrhythmias that can occur during anesthesia. Case based discussions on adjunctive drugs will be included to increase participants' recognition and use of these medications.

CE CREDITS: 6

Tuition: $120 ($108 early bird special if enrolled February 13, 2013).
*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).
NOTE: To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course enrollment will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

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  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
*Note: "This course is approved 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/VIN 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: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Nanette R. Walker Smith, MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Barb Burri (Barb@vspn.org); ext. 764 (New Hampshire)
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org); ext 193 (Illinois)
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197 (Florida)
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178 (Nevada)
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187 (Colorado)

800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035
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