Nursing Brachycephalics
An eight week online tutored CPD course with Alison, Katie, Lisa, Lydia and Sian
Following completion of the tutored course, you now have unlimited lifetime access to the learning resources. These are provided for future reference only, and no further CPD hours may be claimed for reviewing the materials.
Week 1
An Introduction to Brachycephalics
- Brachycephalic anatomy basics
- Breeds commonly affected
- Recent increase in popularity and the effects on the breed
- Co-morbidities commonly seen in brachycephalics
- Communication with owners
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Recognise and discuss the anatomy of a brachycephalic patient
- Understand the causes that can be attributed to clinical signs often displayed by patients suffering with BOAS
- Identify co-morbidities often diagnosed in brachycephalic patients
- Understand when and why communication with owners about brachycephalic pet ownership is vital
- Understand the Cambridge BOAS assessment
Week 2
Brachy Breathing – Crisis and Management
- Triage
- Respiratory sounds
- Blood gas analysis
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Oxygen therapy
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand how to triage the brachycephalic patient
- Recognise the difference between the various respiratory sounds
- Identify the uses of blood gas analysis in respiratory conditions
- Understand available treatments for aspiration pneumonia
- Explain the different methods of providing oxygen therapy
Week 3
It’s a Hot Topic – Heatstroke Management
- Heatstroke identification
- Treatment options
- Recovery process
- Risks and complications
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Identify a patient at risk of heatstroke
- Explain how to care for the hot brachycephalic
- Understand the risks associated with heatstroke
- List the clinical signs to look out for in a recovering heatstroke patient
- Describe treatments for the recovering heatstroke patient with a secondary condition
Week 4
Brachycephalic Anaesthesia
- Balanced anaesthesia plans
- Anaesthetic equipment
- Anaesthetic monitoring
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand how to perform a pre-anaesthetic evaluation
- Design a patient specific anaesthesia plan, to include – premedication, induction, maintenance, and other medications to support the brachycephalic patient in the peri-anaesthesia period
- Understand the approach to monitoring the brachycephalic patient under anaesthesia
Week 5
Managing a Difficult Airway
- Pre-anaesthetic airway compromise and signs of potential difficult airways
- Intubations, including tips and equipment aids
- Ways to assist patient recovery from anaesthesia
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Evaluate a patient prior to anaesthesia to determine severity of airway compromise
- Identify the clinical signs to alert the anaesthetist to a potential difficult airway prior to induction
- List the different intubation aids and how to maximise successful intubations, to maintain oxygenation and minimise hypoxia
- Understand how we can assist recoveries in the brachycephalic patient to achieve extubation and reduce incidence of post anaesthesia respiratory obstruction
Week 6
Head and Neck Surgery
- Preparing the patient for surgery
- Surgical techniques to correct common conditions – stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules, everted palatine tonsils, skin fold resection and tracheotomy/tracheostomy
- Surgical techniques for conditions affecting the eyes – canthoplasty, grafting for ulceration, entropion etc.
- Instrumentation
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Prepare the patient for a range of procedures, including preparation of skin, eyes and mucous membranes
- Correctly position patients for a range of surgical procedures involving the head and neck
- Understand the most common surgical procedures, and explain these to owners
- Tailor a post-operative care plan for each individual patient
Week 7
All the Other Problems Not in the Head and Neck!
- Preparing the patient for surgery
- Surgical techniques for a range of common conditions including caesarean sections, fracture repairs (humeral condyle), hiatus hernia, screw tail, hemilaminectomy and pulmonic stenosis
- Instrumentation
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Prepare theatre and the patient for a range of surgical procedures
- Understand the most common surgical procedures, and explain these to owners
- Tailor a post-operative care plan for each individual patient
- Identify common surgical instruments and understand their use
Week 8
Ophthalmology
- Corneal ulceration, exposure keratopathy and corneal pigmentation
- Corneal sequestrum in cats
- Entropion and ectropion
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)
- Tear overflow and staining
- Proptosis
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Explain the common ocular conditions in the brachycephalic patient
- Understand the treatment options for the above conditions
- Feel more confident when nursing the ophthalmic patient and what specific considerations to bear in mind
CPD Course Content
Nursing Brachycephalics
Course progress
Online CPD for Vet Nurses
Excel CPD specialises in providing online CPD for veterinary nurses and technicians all over the globe. Our courses are also fully approved by AVNAT for our nursing colleagues in Australia and New Zealand.