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
After completion of this week, participants 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
After completion of this week, participants 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
After completion of this week, participants 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
After completion of this week, participants 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
After completion of this week, participants 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
After completion of this week, participants 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
After completion of this week, participants 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 sequestrums in cats

Entropion and Ectropion

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)

Tear overflow and staining

Proptosis

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants 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