Description
This flexi CPD course is aimed at vet nurses and vet technicians in general practice and is available on-demand with unlimited lifetime access. Each module consists of a tutorial, quiz and further reading articles
Module 1
Principles of Anaesthetising Critical Patients
- Anaesthetic risk in the compromised patient
- The importance of patient history and physical examination
- Diagnostic tests
- Patient stabilisation
- Anaesthetic protocol, monitoring and recovery
Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:
- Understand why critical patients are at an increased anaesthesia and sedation risk
- Understand that improving patient safety requires a holistic, overall management process, not simply using “the best drug protocol”. This will include consideration of:
- What pre-anaesthetic tests may be required and the benefit they offer
- What pre-anaesthetic stabilisation may be required
- Recall an introduction into the type of patient monitoring which is required during the peri-anaesthetic period
- Understand general principles for appropriate anaesthetic drug protocols for the critical patient
Module 2
General Approach to Adverse Events and Introduction to Anaesthetic Complications
- Near misses and adverse events
- Minimising adverse events by preparation
- Checklists and non-technical skills
- Common anaesthetic complications
Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:
- Name the three steps necessary for approaching adverse events and discuss why they are important, including methods in which near misses and adverse events can be minimised in practice
- Understand the role of human factors in patient safety and the value of checklist use in anaesthetic practice
- Give an overview of what anaesthetist non-technical skills (ANTS) are and be able to begin using them in clinical practice
- Know the most common anaesthetic complications encountered in small animal practice
Module 3
Cardiovascular Complications
- Alterations in heart rate:
- Bradyarrhythmias
- Tachyarrhythmias
- Alterations in blood pressure:
- Hypotension
- Hypertension
Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:
- Recognise abnormal physiological parameters with regards to the cardiovascular system for individual patients undergoing anaesthesia
- Understand the most common underlying causes for alterations in heart rate (bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias) during general anaesthesia
- List some main treatments for the most common arrhythmias which present under general anaesthesia
- Understand the most common underlying causes for alterations in blood pressure (hypotension and hypertension) during general anaesthesia
- List some main treatments for the most common blood pressure alterations which present under general anaesthesia
- Begin to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic with use of the available equipment
Module 4
Respiratory Complications
- Alterations in ventilation:
- Hypoventilation
- Hyperventilation (including tachypnoea)
- Apnoea or respiratory arrest
- Hypoxaemia
- Respiratory obstruction:
- Upper respiratory tract
- Lower respiratory tract
- Restrictive pulmonary disease
- Aspiration (and regurgitation)
Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:
- Recognise what are abnormal physiological parameters with regards to the respiratory system for individual patients undergoing anaesthesia
- Understand the most common underlying causes for alterations in ventilation, including hypo- and hyperventilation, apnoea and respiratory arrest
- List the main treatments for the most common changes in ventilation under anaesthesia.
- Understand the difference between hypoxaemia and hypoxia, listing the potential causes for these and therefore be able to suggest methods to manage these conditions
- Recognise the clinical signs of respiratory obstruction and restrictive pulmonary disease and describe what steps could be taken to alleviate the underlying problem
- State why aspiration is a risk under anaesthesia and how to manage a case of gastro-oesophageal reflux in order to minimise patient risk
- Begin to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic with use of the available equipment
Module 5
‘Other’ Complications
- Central nervous system:
- Emergence delirium
- Post anaesthetic blindness and deafness
- Thermoregulation:
- Hypothermia
- Hyperthermia
- Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions
- Embolism
Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:
- Outline why cats are at particular risk for post anaesthetic blindness and deafness and describe methods which can minimise this risk
- List available methods for patient warming, with recognition of the need to counteract patient hypothermia and the potential risks associated with warming device use
- List risk factors associated with peri-operative hyperthermia and discuss steps which can be implemented to manage the hyperthermic patient
- Recognise if an anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction is occurring and be able to suggest steps to manage the situation
- Understand that embolisms are a rare, but potential complication during anaesthesia and be able to list the clinical signs associated with their occurrence
Module 6
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Detecting cardiopulmonary arrest
- Basic life support:
- Chest compressions
- Tracheal intubation
- Ventilation
- Advanced life support
- Drug therapy
- Oxygen supplementation
- Intravenous fluid therapy
- Correction of electrolyte and metabolic disturbances
- Defibrillation
- Monitoring during CPR
- Post cardiac arrest care
Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:
- Explain the purpose of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and describe its two main components
- Recognise when cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be instigated
- Understand the importance of regular CPR training within the practice team
- Describe and demonstrate the method for effective chest compressions, tracheal intubation and ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- List what steps can be taken to provide advanced life support during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Know what monitoring tools are recommended for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and be able to interpret the main waveforms that will be seen during a resuscitation event
The course will be available immediately following purchase, with unlimited lifetime access and will provide a total of:
10 hours of CPD (UK)
10 points (Australia – AVNAT approved)
10 points (New Zealand – AVNAT / NZVNA approved)
10 points (South Africa – SAVC Accreditation Number AC/2351/25)
Release date: March 2025
Bethany W –
The speaker was knowledgeable, easy to listen to and gave good feedback. I learnt quite a bit of new information regarding anaesthesia. There were some bits of the course I thought could have gone into more detail but the additional reader provided, does allow me to do some more learner on my own.
Rated: Intermediate level
(Newly qualified (<2 years) - UK)
Niamh M –
This course is very informative and helpful. I found I have learned a huge deal which I am implementing in practice.
Rated: Intermediate level
(Newly qualified (<2 years) - UK)
Anna W –
Great course
Rated: Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)
Claire R –
Excellent course. Excellent level of information given
Rated: Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)